Open your account . To start trading futures at TD Ameritrade, you’ll need to open a standard account. The standard account can either be an individual or joint account. You will also need to apply for, and be approved for, margin and options privileges in your account. The best online brokers for trading futures overall. TradeStation and Generic Trade do a good job of serving two different types of futures traders. See our TradeStation review. Commission: Fixed: $1.50 per contract, per side or Tiered: $0.25-$1.20 per contract, per side + exchange and NFA fees. Every successful futures day trader manages their risk, and risk management is a crucial element of profitability. Traders should keep the risk on each trade to 1% or less of the account value. If a trader has a $30,000 account, they shouldn't allow themselves to lose more than $300 on a single trade.