Beginner

Trading Account

Also known as: Brokerage Account, Live Account, Real Account, Forex Account

What is Trading Account?

A trading account is the funded account a client holds with a broker to buy and sell currency pairs, CFDs, and other instruments. For an IB or affiliate it is the foundational product a referred client must open, fund, and actively trade before any rebate or CPA payout is generated.

Brokers offer several account tiers, and the type a client picks directly shapes what a partner earns. A Standard account bakes the broker's markup into the spread (e.g. 1.2 pips on EUR/USD, no separate commission), so IB rebates come from that spread share. A Raw/ECN account charges near-zero spread plus a fixed commission (e.g. $3.50 per side per lot), so rebates come from the commission. Cent and demo accounts usually pay little or nothing to partners.

Key takeaways
  • Rebates only come from live, funded, verified accounts — never demo.
  • Account type (Standard vs Raw/ECN) sets whether you earn from spread or commission.
  • KYC verification must complete before funding and before CPA milestones count.
  • Promotional zero-commission accounts can pay partners far less — check the terms.
  • Track referrals by status: registered, verified, funded, active.

A concrete flow: a client opens a Standard account through the IB's tracking link and deposits $500. As they trade, the IB earns a $5 rebate per standard lot. If the client trades 20 lots in a month, the IB earns $100 — without the client paying anything extra, since the rebate comes from the broker's existing spread. The client must first pass KYC verification (ID and proof of address) before the account can be funded and before CPA milestones count.

Account status matters as much as account type. Unverified accounts are usually blocked from depositing, dormant accounts stop paying rebates, and accounts opened on promotional zero-commission offers may pay the partner drastically reduced amounts. Tracking which referrals are verified, funded, and active is core IB hygiene.

How it works

A prospect clicks the partner's tracking link, which tags the browser and ties the eventual registration to the IB's code. The client completes registration, uploads KYC documents, and the broker verifies identity. Once approved, the client funds the account and starts trading.

Each executed trade generates spread or commission for the broker, and the broker's partner system attributes a share back to the linked IB in real time, crediting a partner wallet. CPA models instead pay a fixed bounty once the client hits a qualifying milestone — for example, a verified account with a minimum deposit and a minimum traded volume. The account type, the client's activity, and the payout model together determine how much and how often the partner is paid.

  1. Client clicks the tracking link

    The IB's referral link or code attributes the future account to the partner.

  2. Registration and account type choice

    The client selects a tier — Standard, Raw/ECN, Cent — which sets the rebate basis.

  3. KYC verification

    The client uploads ID and proof of address; the broker approves before funding is allowed.

  4. Funding the account

    The client deposits; unverified or unfunded accounts trigger no payouts.

  5. Active trading generates payouts

    Each lot traded credits the IB a rebate, or a CPA bounty fires once milestones are met.

Why it matters for partnership: The trading account is the unit your entire revenue depends on — account type sets your rebate structure, and verification plus activity status decides whether payouts actually fire.

Real World Example

An IB refers a client to Exness using a unique tracking link. The client opens a Standard account, passes KYC, and deposits $500. Trading roughly 20 standard lots a month at a $5 rebate per lot, the IB earns about $100 monthly from that single account — paid from the broker's spread, at no extra cost to the client.

Common Trading Account Types and IB Impact
Account Type Cost Model Typical IB Payout
Standard Spread markup, no commission Rebate from spread share
Raw / ECN Near-zero spread + commission Rebate from commission
Cent Micro lots, small spreads Low or minimal
Demo Virtual funds, no risk None

Pro Tip

Push referrals to complete KYC verification immediately after registering — unverified accounts are blocked from depositing and will not trigger your CPA payouts.

Common Pitfalls

Ignoring which account type your clients open — promotional, zero-spread, or institutional accounts can carry drastically reduced or zero IB commissions versus standard retail accounts.

FAQ

Do I earn commissions on demo trading accounts?

No. Rebates and CPA only come from live, funded accounts where real money trades and real spreads or commissions are paid to the broker.

How is a trading account linked to me?

Through your unique referral link, which tags the registration, or by the client manually entering your IB code when they sign up.

Which account type earns me the most as an IB?

It depends on the broker's structure — Standard accounts pay from spread and Raw/ECN accounts pay from commission. Compare each broker's rebate schedule rather than assuming.

Why has a referred account stopped paying me?

Common reasons are the account going dormant, the client withdrawing funds, an unverified status, or a promotional account type that excludes IB payouts.

Does the client pay extra so I get a rebate?

No. IB rebates are paid by the broker out of the spread or commission the client already pays, so referring through your link costs the client nothing extra.

How long does account verification take?

Most regulated brokers approve KYC within a few hours to a couple of business days once the client uploads valid ID and proof of address.