MT5 Grey Label Cost: What New Brokers Really Pay to Launch
Search for MT5 grey label cost and you find a single monthly figure. That number matters, but it is only one line of the real bill. This guide separates the platform price from the extras and the running costs, so you can plan a launch budget that survives contact with reality.
The platform price is the starting point
The grey label setups listed on this site run from $2,000 to $2,400 per month. These figures are subject to confirmation and describe the setup itself, not the cost of running a brokerage.
Treat them as the entry cost, then add everything the platform does not include. Compare options in our setup listings guide.
One-off and setup items
Depending on the provider and your plans, expect some one-off items:
- Onboarding or configuration work beyond the base setup.
- Branding assets and your client-facing website.
- Legal documents such as client agreements and policies.
- Company set-up, if you need it, covered in our company formation guide.
Ask for every one-off item as a separate line.
Optional integrations
CRM integration and Manager API access are optional and quoted separately on the setups we list. So are payment integrations, a liquidity bridge, hosting for ancillary services and plugins.
Price them even if you plan to add them later, so your first-year budget includes them. See what is optional in CRM and API work.
Running costs most budgets forget
The costs that hurt are the ones that recur and were never written down:
- Payment provider fees and reserves.
- Liquidity or hedging costs, depending on your model.
- Staff for support, compliance and operations.
- Marketing to bring in clients.
- Software subscriptions and professional fees.
A realistic budget lists these next to the platform fee.
Build a three-column budget
Make a sheet with three columns: one-off, monthly and optional. Fill each row from a written quote, add your own operating costs and total the first twelve months. Then add a contingency line for the things you did not foresee.
Our packages page shows how the pieces fit together.
Questions that keep the quote honest
Ask what is included in the monthly price, what support covers, how changes are priced, what happens if you outgrow the setup and how you can leave. A quote that answers these clearly is a better sign than a low headline price.
For the white label side of the question, read the white label cost breakdown.
A worked first-year view
Here is a way to organise a first-year budget for a grey label. The numbers are blanks on purpose: fill them with quoted figures.
| Line | Month 1 | Months 2–6 | Months 7–12 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform subscription | Check client limit | |||
| One-off setup and branding | Is there a fee? | |||
| CRM and API | Included or extra? | |||
| Payments | Set-up and per-transaction | |||
| Liquidity and pricing | Terms and minimums | |||
| Company, banking, licence | Annual renewals | |||
| People and support | Hours covered | |||
| Marketing | Acquisition plan | |||
| Contingency | A percentage of total |
Seeing months side by side shows when cash is needed. Many brokers find that month one is heavy with one-off items and that months two to six are lighter but not empty.
Break-even thinking
Break-even is the number of active clients at which monthly contribution covers monthly fixed cost. To estimate it, work out the average monthly revenue per active client, subtract variable costs such as payment fees and partner commissions, and divide your fixed monthly costs by what remains.
Compare the answer to your client limit. If break-even sits close to the limit, the setup may constrain your economics, and it is worth asking what an upgrade costs. If break-even is far below the limit, you have headroom. Revisit the calculation every quarter with real data.
Cost conversations with your provider
Prepare a short list of questions and go through it line by line:
- What is included in the monthly price today?
- What are the extra charges and when do they apply?
- How do prices change if I add groups, logins or symbols?
- Is there a minimum term, and what are the exit terms?
- Can you give a written price for a six-month review of scope?
A provider who answers clearly is easier to budget with. A provider who avoids specifics is giving you information as well.
Listed prices and what to do with them
The listed monthly prices on this site run from $2,000 to $2,400 for grey label setups. Treat them as starting points. They help you shortlist, but the budget you build should be based on a written scope that lists what is included and what is not. See the current gray label setups and ask for scope-based quotes.
Mistakes in grey label budgets
- Assuming the monthly price is the entire cost.
- Forgetting the cost of payments, people and marketing.
- Planning for the best case only.
- Not asking what happens to price as the client count grows.
- Failing to review the budget after the first quarter.
A cautious budget with a contingency is easier to defend than an optimistic one that runs out of cash.
Reviewing the budget quarterly
Each quarter, replace estimates with actual figures, mark variances and update the forecast for the next year. Ask whether any commitments can be reduced or renegotiated. Share the review with the team so that cost awareness becomes a habit and not an annual surprise.
Questions for yourself before you sign
Can I afford to operate for six months without meaningful revenue? What would I cut first if costs rose by a fifth? Do I understand every line of the quote? If your answers are uncertain, adjust the plan before you sign, not after.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an MT5 grey label cost?
Listed monthly prices start at $2,000 on this site, subject to confirmation. Your total depends on scope, integrations, company costs, people and marketing.
What costs do new brokers forget?
Support outside business hours, payment provider deposits or reserves, compliance reviews, testing time and changes after launch.
Is a grey label cheaper than a white label?
Usually the entry cost is lower, but compare over twelve and thirty-six months under growth scenarios.
Should I negotiate the price?
Yes, particularly on scope, term and support. Ask what can be adjusted, not only the headline number.