There are many aspects to selecting a CFD broker or provider. Although cost is important, particularly if you are an active trader, there are other factors which should enter into your decision.

Most brokers should be able to give you online access with phone support if you need additional assistance, and this should be a baseline in terms of the facilities offered. Assuming you are not going with level II direct access trading, you will find that some brokers have standalone software packages, but many use browser-based platforms, and these are usually perfectly adequate for general CFD trading.

Many will allow you to use a demo version of their trading platform to see how you like it, and although they all seem to have the same facilities, you should try the particular broker that you're interested in to make sure that their platform covers your needs. In particular, you will want to check how intuitive the command interface is, so that you do not require too steep a learning curve. You do not need the software to stand in the way of your trading skills!

Be warned that nowadays, with the Internet, it is very easy for someone to set up a professional website and appear to be a well established company, even if they are operating out of their home office in the evenings. You need to be careful to find out as much as you need to know to feel reassured about the company; how long they have been established, and whether they are in a major country or whether they operate offshore and are difficult to get hold of.

The best way to check out a company's efficiency and reliability is to try and get recommendations from other traders, but be wary of placing too much reliance on the forums and bulletin boards, as it has been known for companies to take part in self publicity in such places. Before placing any money with them, be sure to at least call them to see how happy you will be with their support.

You might find that you only require one broker, but you should consider more than one if you have particular needs. For instance, you may find a very good commission rates with one broker but they do not have the facility to offer short positions on all the stocks you want to trade. Quality and speed of execution is the most important factor, and this should not be sacrificed to save the last penny in costs. However, you should not be paying more than is necessary to give you the service required.

Other items which you should verify include the types of orders that will be accepted. If your trading system relies on conditional orders of some type, then you obviously need to make sure that these are available with your broker, and you will want to ensure that the interface to place these orders is clear and easy to use.

You may want to place an order after the market is closed, particularly if you have a full-time job during the day, and some providers require you to place the orders when the market is open. An outside hours order may require an "if done" stoploss order, which will only be placed if the initial trade is entered at the price you require when the markets open again, and you want to be sure that a system for doing so is plain and cannot be misunderstood.

One fundamental that you may find some variation on is the margin requirement for trading. While many will give you 10%, which corresponds to a 10 to 1 leverage, this can vary between 5% and 20%, and may vary for different types of shares depending on their turnover. Comparisons between brokers can make all the difference to how quickly you can grow your account.

You need to ask if there are any additional charges, outside of the trading commissions. For instance, if you need the facility of live updating prices for your style of trading, you may be charged a monthly fee. Sometimes such fees are negotiable, and negotiations may depend on how much you intend to trade. An active trader will often receive some discount.

One point to check is whether the broker uses direct access to the markets, known as DMA (direct market access), which ensures that you will receive the current market price. When the broker does not have this facility, you might find that the spreads between bid and ask prices are slightly higher, making it more difficult to show a profit.

Finally, if you have tried out the demonstration versions of the browsers or software, you may be ready to take the plunge and start trading in earnest. Remember that you are depositing an amount of money with them that you hope will grow even larger, and you need to take suitable precautions in dealing with that. There are tales of offshore brokers who never allow winning traders to realize their equity, and as these brokers are in other countries it is very difficult to use the force of law against them. This is the reason that you must be careful on your initial selection.

The good news is that there are many decent brokers around, so all you have to do is exercise care in your choice. Base your decision on the factors that are of most importance to you, and you may start a long and successful relationship.