Spreads
The spread, calculated in "pips," is the difference between the price at which a currency can be purchased and the price at which it can be sold at any given point in time. Because currencies, unlike futures and stocks, are not traded through a central exchange, the spread can be different depending on the broker you use, so it's well worth checking a few out before you open an account. Lower spreads can help you save money!

Wide Range of Leverage Options
Forex trading allow you to take positions up to 100 times the value of your account. The leverage available in forex is one of the main advantages of this market, especially for futures and stock traders. Leverage, expressed as a ratio between total capital available to actual capital, is the amount of money a broker will lend you for trading. For example, a ratio of 200:1 means your broker would lend you $200 for every $1 of actual capital. Many brokerages offer a flexible margin policy that allows you to choose the leverage that's right for you.

Account Types
Many brokers offer two or more types of accounts.
Mini account is designed for those new to online currency trading and those with limited investment capital. There is a smaller deposit required to start trade of just $250 or less.
The Standard Account is for those investors who are experienced in trading forex. The standard account lets you trade at a variety of different leverages, but it requires a minimum initial capital of $2,500. Finally, premium accounts, which often require significant amounts of capital, let you use different amounts of leverage and often offer additional tools and services.

Trading Platform
All the forex brokers offer their own trading platforms. A good trading platform is the platform that you will use to search for your trades, receive information, execute your trades and manage your accounts. Some come as a complete package, a system that will handle all of your trading tasks. These trading platforms often feature real-time charts, technical analysis tools, real-time news and data, and even support for trading systems. A good trading platform will show you real-time information about your open positions, P&L, margin and account balances. Before committing to any broker, be sure to request free trials to test different trading platforms.

Support
Forex is a 24 hour market, so your forex broker should offer 24 hour support. You might not be trading at 4am, but that could be what time it is in your forex brokers head office on the other side of the planet, so make sure there will be somebody there to pick up the phone if things go wrong. The best way to test out the support is to call them up or email them a few times before you open an account. Make a nuisance of yourself - if they don't treat you with the respect and attention you deserve before you become a customer, it won't bode well for the future. You'll also want to find out if you can close positions over the phone - essential in case your PC or internet connection go down at a critical moment.