TradeStation account opening

Are you a new investor considering opening a brokerage account at TradeStation but don't know how to do it? Are you wondering how long the process takes and how difficult it is?

Opening a brokerage account can seem daunting, but we'll show you it's often easier than you think. Account opening at TradeStation is in fact a great experience that needs no prior knowledge.

Opening an account at TradeStation is easy and intuitive

Opening an account at [Broker name] is easy and intuitive

András Régely

Investments • Stock Market • Market Analysis

As a Broker Analyst at BrokerChooser, I'm dedicated to providing data-driven insights that simplify the world of investments. With a solid academic background, including an MSc in Accounting and Finance from LSE, I bring a deep understanding of financial markets to my role. My mission is to assist retail investors in finding the perfect broker fit by leveraging my trading experience and analytical skills. At BrokerChooser, I merge my passion for trading with a keen eye for market trends, helping clients navigate online brokers confidently and effectively.

Learn about our methodology

András Régely

Investments • Stock Market • Market Analysis

Together with my brokerage analyst colleagues, I have thoroughly tested the services of TradeStation by opening a real-money account. Here’s what you need to know about account opening if you want to start investing with TradeStation:

• Account opening at TradeStation is fully online and takes 1 day.

• You will need to prove your identity and residency with documents.

• Choose an account type that suits your needs.

• The only available base currency is USD.

• The minimum deposit at TradeStation is $0.

• Browse the best brokers for beginners for some great alternatives.

Before we start, let's check if TradeStation is available in your country:

Account opening at TradeStation is fully online, meaning you can do it from the comfort of your chair. In fact, you don't even need a chair: you can simply do it on the go on your mobile phone.

See how we rated the account opening experience and how long it takes to get started at TradeStation compared with its main competitors:

Opening an account is always free of charge, but the time it takes differs from broker to broker. At some brokers, it's as quick as signing up for a new Gmail account. At others, it might take a couple of days as they run a background check on your data. At TradeStation, it usually takes 1 day to have your account up and running.

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Navigating the complexities of trading can be challenging. If you're a new investor, you'll need a broker with a user-friendly trading interface and robust educational materials. So where to find such brokers? Start with our toplist of brokers we rated as good for beginners.

First, you need to go to TradeStation's website and fill a registration form to apply for an account. It takes the broker a bit of time to review and verify your application - usually 1 day - after which you can make your first deposit and start trading.

Opening a brokerage account is not unlike opening a bank account. As you go through the steps, you’ll find that it is a simple and familiar process. Once your brokerage account is set up, you’ll find that the experience is similar to what you get with a bank account that you use for savings and transactions. See, it’s just another way of managing your money!

The sign-up procedure is usually self-evident; just follow the instructions carefully. Here's what awaits you at TradeStation:

TradeStation account opening is fully digital and user-friendly. For regulatory reasons, US brokers cannot open your account instantly. Still, TradeStation's account opening is one of the fastest among US brokers. It usually takes 1-2 business days for your account to be approved.

To open an account at TradeStation, you have to go through the following steps:

1. Account setup: choose the account type. You can also choose a personal account manager.
2. Personal information: enter personal information, like your address and date of birth.
3. Employment information: add details about your employment status and your employer.
4. Financials and experience: answer a short questionnaire about your trading experience. You also have to estimate your annual income and net worth.
5. Verification: verify your identity and address. For identification, TradeStation accepts a driver’s license, passport or national ID card. For proof of address, you can upload a utility bill or bank statement.

The following steps are typical toward the end of the application process or after verifying your identity:

1. You'll have to fill out a trading experience survey. It might seem scary at first, but it is nothing to worry about. This is standard procedure, as brokers need to make sure that you have some basic financial knowledge and are aware of the risks of trading.

2. Next, you'll have to choose an account type and a base currency.

3. As a final step, you'll need to fund your account before you can start trading.

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Brokers usually provide multiple account types. When choosing an account, consider how experienced you are in trading, and pick an account that suits your needs. Some factors to take into account: your investment goals, risk tolerance, trading frequency, and any associated fees or account balance minimums.

If you're a beginner, we recommend selecting the most basic account offered by the broker, which is the standard account.

The above apply to retail accounts opened by private individuals. If you're looking to open a brokerage account for your company, see our overview of whether you can open a business investment account at TradeStation and under what conditions.

Alternatively, find out more about TradeStation's specific account types in our comprehensive TradeStation review for 2025.

At TradeStation, the only available currency is USD. If possible, try to deposit money to your brokerage account in USD.

Why is all this important? If you fund your trading account in the same currency as your bank account, you won't have to pay a conversion fee. Conversion fees apply if:

• You make a deposit in a different currency than the currency of your brokerage account.

• You trade assets denominated in a different currency than your brokerage account's base currency.

A convenient way to save on currency conversion fees is by opening a multi-currency bank account at a digital bank.

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Once you have filled out the registration form, uploaded your documents, finished the trading survey and selected your account type and base currency, TradeStation will verify your account shortly. After successful verification, you need to fund your account to be able to begin trading.

• Choose your funding method.

• Enter the amount to be deposited and other necessary details for the transaction.

• Double-check if payment details are correct.

• If all looks OK, click to submit your deposit request.

At TradeStation, the minimum deposit is $0. This means that you can deposit as little money as you wish.

Brokers that don't require a minimum deposit do so to encourage people to try their services without requiring a large initial commitment. Many brokers no longer require a minimum deposit nowadays; so if you want to compare TradeStation and its rivals along other criteria, you can do so using our broker comparison tool.

At TradeStation, the only available option to deposit money to your account is via bank transfer.

After successfully funding your account, you're all set to start trading.

To explore TradeStation’s top competitors, head over to our top list of the best brokers for beginners, whose low fees and user-friendly features benefit new investors like you.

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