Broker setup cost calculator

How much does it cost to start a forex brokerage?

Build your brokerage step by step — licence, website, hosting, trading platform, CRM, bridge, liquidity, plugins and marketing — and see one-time, monthly and first-year costs as you go. Then get a detailed quote by email.

Step 1 of 10 · Choose one

Compliance

Choose a licensing jurisdiction or a company-formation-only route. Timelines depend on the regulator.

Regulated

Non-regulated (company formation)

Step 2 of 10 · Choose one

Logo & favicon

Brand mark and favicon for your website, client area and apps.

Step 3 of 10 · Choose one

Website

A broker website with account types, platform pages, legal pages and registration links.

Step 4 of 10 · Choose any

Hosting

Servers for your trading platform and related services. Most brokers choose a primary and a backup server.

Step 5 of 10 · Choose one

Trading platform

Platform licence, setup and management. Licences are contracted through the vendor or an authorised reseller.

Step 6 of 10 · Choose one

CRM & mobile app

DARKLIGHT FX Forex CRM with client area and partner area. A one-time onboarding setup fee is quoted separately.

Step 7 of 10 · Choose one

Gateway & bridge

Connect your platform to liquidity through a gateway or bridge.

Step 8 of 10 · Choose any

Liquidity

Liquidity connectivity and price feeds. Liquidity itself is provided under your agreements with the LPs.

Step 9 of 10 · Choose any

Plugins

Platform add-ons for trading products and dealing.

Step 10 of 10 · Choose any

Digital marketing

Ongoing growth services. Ad spend is paid directly to the ad platforms and is not included.

About the estimate

How the numbers are calculated

01

One-time

Setup, licence application and build costs paid once.

02

Monthly

Recurring platform, CRM, hosting, liquidity, plugin and marketing fees.

03

Year 1 total

One-time costs plus twelve months of recurring fees.

04

Compliance renewal

Annual licence or company renewal, payable from the second year.

05

Not included

Regulatory capital, office, staff, taxes, bank charges and advertising spend.

06

Final quote

Prices and timelines are confirmed in a written proposal after a consultation.

FAQ

Cost questions

What is the cheapest way to start a forex brokerage?

Usually an offshore company formation (non-regulated route) with a web-first platform, a Standard CRM plan and a basic website. Regulated licences cost more but open more markets, banking and PSP options.

Why is the MT5 platform cost so high?

MetaTrader 5 server licensing carries significant vendor fees. Web-first platforms such as Match-Trader can lower the entry cost; see trading platforms.

Are these prices final?

No. They are indicative. Licence costs depend on the regulator and your structure, and third-party fees can change. We confirm everything in a written proposal.

Can I pick only some services?

Yes. Skip any step you already have covered — for example, if you already hold a licence. See turnkey brokerage setup.