Every cost you will encounter launching and running a white-label brokerage — platform fees, licence costs, liquidity, compliance, staffing and 3-year total cost projections. Real numbers, no fluff.
Launching a white-label brokerage involves costs across six categories. Most founders who underestimate their budget fail to account for licence capital requirements and ongoing compliance costs. This guide covers all six.
What you pay CTATech for the technology layer.
| Component | One-Time Setup | Monthly | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core trading platform (web) | $3,000–$6,000 | $800–$1,500 | Branded web trading interface |
| Mobile apps (iOS + Android) | $2,000–$4,000 | Included | Published to your App Store account |
| Back-office admin panel | Included | Included | Client mgmt, KYC, deposits, IB |
| CRM & onboarding | $1,000–$2,000 | $500–$1,200 | Lead pipeline + digital KYC flow |
| Risk management engine | Included | Included | A/B/hybrid execution |
| Additional asset classes | $500–$2,000/class | $200–$500/class | Crypto, equities, etc. |
| Infrastructure & hosting | Included | $500–$2,000 | Cloud, DDoS, backups |
| Total — Basic Package | $6,000–$12,000 | $1,800–$4,700 |
The single largest cost variable — and non-negotiable to operate legally.
| Jurisdiction | Min Capital | Licence Fees | Legal Costs | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VFSC Vanuatu | $50,000 | $3,000–$5,000 | $5,000–$8,000 | 2–3 months |
| FSA Seychelles | $50,000 | $3,500–$6,000 | $5,000–$10,000 | 3–4 months |
| FSCA South Africa | $100,000 | $5,000–$8,000 | $8,000–$15,000 | 4–6 months |
| CySEC Cyprus | €200,000 | €10,000–€15,000 | $20,000–$40,000 | 6–9 months |
| FCA UK | €730,000 | £10,000+ | $50,000–$100,000 | 12–18 months |
| ASIC Australia | $1,000,000 | AUD 10,000+ | $40,000–$80,000 | 6–12 months |
Minimum capital is held in segregated accounts — it is not a fee paid to regulators. Most of this capital can be used as working capital and client margin buffer once licensed.
Estimated all-in costs for 3 typical launch profiles. Licence capital excluded (varies substantially).
| Cost Line | Lean Launch | Standard Launch | Premium Launch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform setup | $6,000 | $10,000 | $18,000 |
| Legal & licence fees | $8,000 | $15,000 | $40,000 |
| LP setup deposit | $50,000 | $100,000 | $200,000 |
| 6-month platform licensing | $10,800 | $21,600 | $36,000 |
| 6-month compliance costs | $6,000 | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| 6-month staffing | $15,000 | $36,000 | $72,000 |
| Marketing (6 months) | $10,000 | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| Total (excl. licence capital) | ~$106,000 | ~$225,000 | ~$450,000 |
| Add: Regulatory capital (VFSC) | $50,000 | $50,000 | $100,000+ |
A white-label brokerage typically costs $3,000–$20,000 in initial setup fees and $800–$5,000 per month in platform licensing. Adding licence, compliance, liquidity and operational costs, a realistic total first-year budget for a small new broker is $30,000–$80,000.
VFSC (Vanuatu) and FSA Seychelles are the lowest-cost regulated options, with minimum capital requirements of $50,000–$100,000 and licence fees of $5,000–$10,000. The process takes 2–4 months and is accessible to most well-prepared applicants.
Yes. Ongoing monthly costs typically include: platform licensing ($800–$5,000), server/infrastructure ($500–$2,000), LP connectivity and feed ($500–$2,000), KYC API ($300–$800), payment gateway fees (1–3% of volume), and compliance/legal retainer ($1,000–$3,000). Plan for $3,000–$12,000 in monthly fixed overheads before staffing.
The technology and operational minimum is around $20,000–$30,000. However, you also need regulatory capital for your licence jurisdiction ($50,000–$500,000 depending on jurisdiction), client segregated funds and working capital. Realistic total starting capital for a licenced white-label broker is $100,000–$200,000.
Choosing a lower-cost jurisdiction (VFSC over FCA), using a shared LP arrangement rather than dedicated prime connectivity, starting with a basic CRM before adding advanced modules, and handling compliance in-house (if qualified) can all reduce startup costs significantly.
Join brokers and prop firms worldwide who chose CTATech to build their platforms.