Commissions and Fees
All brokers charge commissions fees. Commissions fees are the cost to buy and sell trading instruments. You are charged a commission fee twice: once when you buy, and again when you sell.
Many brokers also have minimum activity fees. Your account may generate costs if you do not trade, or if you fall under some minimum number of trades.
Almost all brokers charge higher commissions when you phone in orders and speak to a human being. Compare service with commission closely. New traders should look for a broker who provides good service at a reasonable commission and avoid deep discount brokers that offer little or no assistance! Remember that you often get what you pay for, and if you get into a trading jam, a voice on the other end of the line can be a savior.
Look for brokers that pay interest on your account, this may help cover some fees you may generate while learning.