2026 is a strong year to start a brokerage: white-label platform costs have fallen, Match-Trader and cTrader compete hard with MT5, crypto payment rails are mature, and underserved founders in LATAM, Africa and Southeast Asia are building for their own communities. It is also a year of tighter offshore rules and sharper marketing scrutiny. The difference between a launch that goes live in 90 days and one that stalls for a year is almost always sequencing.
·Days 1–15: decide the model and the structure
- Target markets first — they decide the licence question, not the other way round
- Entity: incorporation-first (Saint Lucia / SVG) or licensed (Seychelles at USD 100k capital, Mauritius for banking credibility)
- Budget: fix the all-in number including capital, deposits and six months of running costs before signing anything
- Book the strategy call now if any of the three above are unclear — it is the cheapest week you will spend
·Days 15–40: platform, liquidity and CRM
- Platform: MT5 white label for brand recognition, cTrader for a modern feel, Match-Trader for lowest total cost and fastest setup
- Liquidity: one STP relationship via a bridge; negotiate the deposit — it is the largest cash line in your first year
- CRM / back office: client portal, KYC, IB tree and payment integration (FXBO or an equivalent)
- Sign provider agreements together so integrations are scheduled, not improvised
·Days 40–70: payments, banking and compliance
- Crypto gateway first (USDT), card acquiring as the bank file matures
- Bank or EMI account with a banking-ready corporate file — this is the long pole in most launches
- Website, risk warnings and terms aligned with where you market; geo-blocking for excluded markets
- KYC / AML policy, complaint handling and a compliance calendar — even on an incorporation-first structure
·Days 70–90: test, soft-launch, go live
- End-to-end test: deposit, trade, withdraw, with real accounts and real money in small size
- Soft launch to your first community or IB, fix what breaks, then open marketing
- A go-live runbook: who answers what in the first 30 days
·What it costs in 2026
Our fees for a full brokerage launch start from $35,000; incorporation and licensing work from $6,500. Third-party costs — platform, liquidity deposit, CRM, PSP, capital — are paid directly to providers and itemised for you before you commit. See our transparent pricing page for the full picture, or read our white-label cost breakdown.
·Start with the written launch map
The $250 Founder Strategy Call turns this plan into your plan: jurisdiction, stack, budget and a 90-day timeline in writing. The fee is credited in full toward your engagement.