Last Updated: May 31, 2022 Value Broking 11 Mins 2.7K

Before online trading started working worldwide, stockbrokers were in charge of executing buy and sell orders for their clients. Trading services now enable investors to place “buy and sell orders” immediately through an online trading platform. It has resulted in a massive increase in the number of dealers worldwide. 

Depositories such as CDSL and NSDL have approximately 27 million accounts in India alone! Simultaneously, a Call and Transaction feature allows you to make a phone call and ask the broker to conduct trade on your behalf. The client’s orders are automatically routed to the exchange via the individual’s stockbroker in case of online trading. 

The Importance of Trading Account

The importance of trading accounts is increasing every day among investors.

  • There is no need for traders to be physically present on a stock exchange’s trading floor when they already have trading accounts. Instead, customers may have access to several stock markets from anywhere in the world. It increases the need for a trading account. 
  • Look at your trading account to determine if you have a gross profit or a gross loss. It will show you the link between gross profit and gross loss. It helps in determining the profitability situation. It calculates gross profit and loss by comparing merchandise income with merchandise cost.
  • Trading accounts provide individuals with real-time access to the latest news about the market. They also get access to leading firms’ financial and research reports, which helps them analyze their financial performance and future trends. Traders may also utilize the data to decide on possible stocks that will help them meet their financial objectives.

What is a Trading Account?

A trading account provides an online way to trade and invest in securities in the stock market. Your trading account allows you to trade assets regularly. It helps you in high-risk transactions by tracking the variation of your assets. It is necessary to invest in stock markets while keeping the procedure simple and secure.

Previously, the open outcry system was employed for stock market trading. It included hand gestures and vocal communication. Traders have to use this technique to communicate their purchasing and selling choices. The open outcry approach became outdated with the development of computerized technology in the stock exchanges. Buying or selling online makes the use of a trading account more essential. Traders nowadays don’t use physical ways to place orders. 

You may not complete the transactions if you are not present at the stock market. Instead, you can create a trading account with a regulated stock market broker and permit them to trade on your behalf.

Your trading account serves as an investment account, storing your securities and other assets. It allows you to purchase and sell assets regularly, even inside the same trading session. To open an online trading account, you must first register with a stockbroker or brokerage business to open an online trading account. For stock market transactions, the broker will provide a unique trading ID. Different trading accounts have different characteristics, so you must select one that matches your trading and investing needs.

How to Invest Using a Trading Account?

Trading Risk Management

It is one of the most crucial stages of trading. Traders must stay in the game to flourish. It is critical to adhere to risk management measures. However, if you are new to trading, you should seek the advice of some experienced traders to adopt risk management measures. When you deposit a set amount of money into your trading account and do not withdraw the entire amount in one deal, you are employing one of the most effective but basic risk management strategies.

Control the Desire to Trade

When traders start winning, they tend to trade more out of greed, which is a dangerous activity that can result in massive losses. It is important to believe in quality rather than a number, as some traders begin taking low-quality transactions with minimal profits.

Never Take Unfeasible Risks

Be on the defense. Trading entails not just accepting risks but also managing them effectively. No matter how certain you are, never invest more than 5% of your capital on a single deal, no matter how certain you are.

Mental Clarity

Trading is an incredibly hard profession that demands a clear head. To avoid being overtaken by economic activity, one must maintain a strong mental presence. Maintain your trading strategy. Take a glance at the economic calendar to be informed of events that may impact the market so you are not caught off guard during the day. Over a year, these modest efforts can save you hundreds of rupees.

Be Patient

Before you can obtain your windfall profits, you must continue with your transaction. Manage your financial assets properly. And do not hurry in buying or selling securities.

Why Do You Need a Trading Account?

Several exchanges in India deal in various securities and commodities. National Stock Exchange (NSE), Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX), and Multi Commodity Exchange are some of the prominent exchanges (MCX). An online trading account gives you access to these exchanges through a single platform. Wealth generation is now as simple as a mouse click away.

It all comes down to making the correct decision at the right moment when it comes to equity investment. Online trading platforms provide vital services such as research reports provided by skilled and experienced individuals. Investors can make educated investing selections thanks to the reports. Finally, there is a greater likelihood of generating better returns.

  • Transferring cash and trading stocks has become easier thanks to online trading. Thanks to sophisticated technologies, clients may save and invest more effortlessly and easily.
  • It’s useful to know if you’re making a profit or losing money.
  • It contains information about the direct expenditures.
  • It protects against the possibility of loss.
  • It is useful for comparing closing stock to the previous order information.
  • To assess the gross profit or loss of trade operations by determining the cost of production.

Types of Trading Accounts

Equity Trading Account

Trading in stocks, futures, and options is possible with an equity trading account. The equity trading account is insufficient for taking delivery of equities or subscribing to an initial public offering. If you elect to take possession of your shares, you will need a Demat account to keep them safe. However, if you solely trade futures and options, a trading account is adequate because futures and options do not require delivery.

Trading Accounts, Both Discount and Full-service

Discount trading accounts have grown in popularity in recent years. They provide pure vanilla trading services with no added value. On the other hand, full-service trading accounts include research reports, stock recommendations, and various other features in addition to trading services.

Commodity Trading Account

Commodity trading is a large portion of the total market, but you will need a separate trading account for it. Even though commodities trading is as straightforward as stock trading, separate trading accounts remain a relic of a bygone age. Previously, the regulatory bodies for commodities and stocks were separate, but the commodity trade took place under the control of the SEBI a few years ago. Even though the regulation has remained the same, the practice of separate trading accounts has persisted.

Online and Offline Trading Accounts

Offline trading accounts do not imply the trader’s actual presence at the exchange or the broker’s office. Offline trading accounts do not allow online trading via a desktop or mobile application. In offline trading accounts, one must phone a broker and make orders. As the name implies, online trading accounts allow you to trade using an internet application to send information to the brokerage.

2-in-1 and 3-in-1 Account

Some brokerages provide a 2-in-1 account with an integrated trading and Demat account, making buying/selling and transferring shares to the Demat account simple. The 3-in-1 account takes it further by including a Demat, trading, and bank account. A 3-in-1 account allows for the easy movement of both money and shares. In general, banks with brokerage activities provide three-in-one accounts.

Features of a Trading Account

Simple Investments

You can obtain financial assets from any SEBI-accredited exchange. The trading account generates a single trading platform for you and provides configurable trading tools. It shows the importance of trading accounts to investors.

Smart Tools

New-age trading accounts provide access to new, investor-focused smart tools to help investors make educated investment decisions. These tools are examples of daily reports, strategy builders, financial advice services, reports, and sophisticated charts.

Investment Customization

With a comprehensive trading account, you can tailor your investing experience to your preferences. You may configure your trading accounts to meet your lifestyle, whether it’s customizing your watchlists of stocks to monitor or making customized charts to obtain insight into market movements.

Flexibility

A trading account lets you trade anytime and anywhere. You can manage and monitor your investments from a PC or a smartphone at any time.

Simple and Quick Transactions

Because of a trading account, it just takes a few hours for funds to be transferred and quick access to buying and selling stocks once the funds are accessible. It is one of the main reasons why you need a trading account. 

Transparency

A trading account gives a complete record of any additional expenses incurred during the investment process. It reduces the possibility of you being overcharged by a DP or a bank and ensures complete transparency in every transaction you conduct. 

Eligibility for Opening a Trading Account Online

Age

You do not have to be 18 years old to establish your first trading account. In reality, there is no age limit for investing in the Indian stock market. As a result, both adults and kids can own Trading accounts to trade on the stock market. If you are under the age of 18, you can create your trading account in your name by your parents or a guardian. You will have to provide all of your relevant paperwork.

KYC

In India, whether you want to register a trading account online or not, you must first obtain your KYC. Your PAN card, which can get supplied online or offline as a scanned or photocopied soft copy, will be required. Furthermore, you may be requested to present your Aadhaar card in addition to or instead of your PAN card.

You will be requested for extra soft copies and papers in addition to your KYC documents. These are the following:

Identity Proof

These documents include your PAN, Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, and others. Typically, you must also show two or more passport-sized pictures of yourself. An identification card is a must to prove your identity. This ID must be granted by any of the Statutory/Regulatory Authorities, Central or State Government, scheduled commercial banks, public sector undertakings, professional organizations such as ICSI, ICWAI, and ICAI, as well as bank-issued debit or credit cards.

Address Proof

Documents such as your driver’s license, ration card, flat maintenance bill, registered lease or sale agreement of dwelling, insurance copy, and others can be used to prove your address.

Income Proof

Any of the following documents can show proof of income:

  • A photocopy of one’s ITR (Income Tax Return) or an acknowledgment slip supplied by the ITR during the tax filing process
  • A net worth certificate from a chartered accountant
  • A photocopy of one’s yearly accounts that have been audited and qualified by a Chartered Accountant
  • A current bank statement that includes profits from the previous six months, 
  • A relevant document, such as a pay stub or Form, qualifies as proof of income.

Trading Account Fees & Charges

Investing and trading have shown to be incredibly popular and dependable ways of generating money and financial stability. But, of course, there are no such things as free lunches in our world! Setting oneself up to trade and invest in securities comes with a cost that brokerages and other service providers pass to consumers. A trading account has certain charges attached with it as well. These fees are calculated based on the number of transactions processed via the account. These fees differ from one company to the next.

Trading account fees are classified into three types:

Trading Account Setup Fees

For the reasons stated previously in this article, a trading account is normally free of charge when the organization is a financial institution.

Annual Maintenance Charge

This fee is largely assessed in advance on an annual basis to maintain your account operational and assure continuous service delivery. Many brokerage providers simplify this procedure by bundling it with account opening costs.

Transaction Cost

Any brokerage business will often charge depending on the number of transactions – either by value or the number of stocks. The transaction cost rises as the numbers rise. You will be charged a brokerage fee, which may vary according to the plan and broker you select.