A technology checklist for a new brokerage
Twelve questions to settle before launch day. Most are cheaper to answer early than to fix with clients watching.
Launching a brokerage involves licences, banking and capital, and those get most of the attention. The technology decisions are made in a hurry at the end, which is why so many firms rebuild within two years. This list is meant to be read before any contract is signed.
Before you choose vendors
- Which regulator will you answer to? Its record-keeping and reporting rules shape every system below.
- Which trading platform? The choice decides which CRMs, bridges and tools you can use.
- How will clients pay in and out? Payment providers vary by country, and each needs an integration.
The core systems
- Does the CRM sync with the platform in real time? Ask to see it, not a slide about it.
- Is there an audit trail on every balance change? You will need it the first time a client disputes a withdrawal.
- Can the partner module model your actual commission plan? Bring a real example to the demo.
- Who can do what? Check that roles separate support, finance and compliance.
Keeping it running
- Where are the servers, and how close are they to your liquidity? Distance shows up as slippage.
- What happens when a server fails? Ask for the recovery steps in writing.
- Who answers at night? Markets run around the clock from Monday to Friday.
The agreement
- Who owns the code and the data? Get it stated plainly, along with how you would leave.
- What does support cost after launch? The build price is the smaller number over five years.
None of these questions is technical in the sense of needing an engineer to ask it. They are business questions with technical answers, and a good technology partner will welcome every one.
This post is general information about technology and the brokerage industry. It is not financial, investment, legal or regulatory advice, and it is not an invitation to trade.