How to open a demat and trading account at Zerodha? (Updated: Sept 2020): In this article, we’ll discuss the exact steps to open a demat and trading account at Zerodha. By the end of this article, you’ll have an active Demat account with Zerodha for you, provided you’ve got all the personal documents and follow the procedure discussed in this post correctly.

Anyways, before getting into the steps in this article, let me tell you how and why I opened my Demat and trading account at Zerodha. When I first started investing, I used ICICI direct as my stockbroker for opening my demat and trading account. Although I was happy with the facilities and platforms provided by it, I soon realized that ICICI Direct was very expensive.

Many times, profits were killed by the brokerages in ICICI direct. The worst part was paying too much of brokerage even when you were selling the stock at a loss. Then, I asked for feedback from my friends who were using SBI Smart and HDFC securities. They both were also paying high brokerages and suggested not to go with them. Finally, after researching a lot, I opened my second demat and trading account at ZERODHA.

Zerodha is the biggest discount broker in India with over 30+ lakhs customers. The charges offered by Zerodha are nominal and the trading platform provided by it is also fast and friendly. It charges a brokerage of 0.03% or Rs 20 per executed order, whichever is lower, irrespective of the number of shares or their prices.

This is way cheaper compared to ICICI direct which asked a brokerage of 0.55% on each transaction in equity. If you buy stocks for Rs 50,000 in ICICI direct, then you have to pay a brokerage of Rs 275 (on the other hand, Zerodha will ask for a maximum of Rs 20 any trade). Further, as this amount is charged on both sides of the transaction (buying & selling), hence you have to pay a total of Rs 550 for the complete transactions (which is way too expensive than Zerodha).

In short, if you are planning to enter the stock market world (or even an existing participant), I would recommend opening accounts in this discount broker “Zerodha” so that you can save lots of brokerages.

To get started, here is the direct link to the account opening page at Zerodha.

Why should you open a demat and trading account at Zerodha?

Zerodha is the biggest stockbroker in India in terms of daily trading volume, growth, and active customer base. It is one of the most technologically advanced and affordable stockbrokers. Zerodha has over +3 million clients and contributes to over 15% of daily retail trading volumes across NSE, BSE, MCX. Even in terms of Active clients trading just on NSE, it has outranked all the other new and traditional brokers.

Started by Nitin Kamath in 2010,  as of Aug 2020, Zerodha has been awarded “Startup of the Year” by Economic Times (ET) Startup Awards 2020 and joined the list of distinguished winners that have displayed the potential to go on to become blue-chip corporations. You can read the complete story here. Ironically, Nithin Kamath was named one of the “Top 10 Businessmen to Watch Out for in 2016 in India” by The Economic Times for pioneering and scaling discount broking in India. Here are a few of the famous awards won by Zerodha recently:

— ET Startup of the Year (2020)
— National Stock Exchange (NSE) “Retail brokerage of the year 2019” (& 2018)
— Outlook Money “Retail broker of the year 2017”
— Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the year (Startup) 2017”

Benefits of Opening your demat account with Zerodha:  If you are still confused about why you should open a demat and trading account at Zerodha, then here are top reasons:

1. Rs 0 (FREE) for equity delivery trades.
2. Rs 20 or 0.03% whichever is lower per executed order intraday trading and for everything else
3. Same pricing for across all exchanges
4. No upfront fee or turnover commitment
5. Z-Connect, interactive blog, and portal for all your queries
6. Over 1.5 million happy customers with a reputable brand name
7. 300+ dedicated support team to ensure the fastest turnaround time for your queries via email or phone
8. Trading, charting, and analysis, all rolled into one next-generation desktop platform Pi.
9. Minimalistic, intuitive, responsive web-based trading platform Kite
10. Average exchange margin utilization of 55% vs. an industry average of 70%—lower risk.

Also read: Zerodha Review –Discount Broker in India | Brokerage, Trading Platform & More

How to open a demat and trading account at Zerodha?

Documents required to open a demat and trading account at Zerodha.

Here are the documents required to open a demat and trading account at Zerodha. I will recommend keeping soft copies of all these documents ready before you apply for opening the accounts as you’ve to upload them during the account opening process:

• PAN CARD
• Aadhar Card
• Canceled cheque/ Bank statement
• Your Signature on a piece of paper
• Passport size photos

*Optional– Income proof:  It is mandatory to submit income proof if you wish to trade in Futures and options – Equity, Commodity, and Currency. You can submit Form-16, IT acknowledgment copy, 6-month Bank statement or your latest salary slip as proof. Anyways, ignore this document if you are planning to invest only in just stocks, and not in derivatives, commodity or currency.

Account opening charges at Zerodha

Here are the account opening charges at Zerodha

• Demat and Trading Account: Rs 200
• Commodity Account: Rs 100

If you want to trade in both equity and commodity, then you need to pay an account opening charge of Rs 200+Rs 100 = Rs 300. However, if you want to trade just in equity (stocks), then you need to pay the charge of Rs 200 only.

Now, there are two ways to open a demat and trading account at Zerodha:

• Online method
• Offline method

Using the online method, you can open your account with Zerodha within 15 minutes, if you have all the required documents.

However, in the online method, to complete the eSign process, you will have to authenticate it with an OTP. So, make sure you have the number is linked to your Aadhaar. If not, you will not be able to complete the process. If the number linked to your Aadhaar is inactive, or if you don’t have any number linked, then you can visit your nearest Aadhaar Seva Kendra to get it updated.

Anyways, if you don’t want to use your Aadhaar, you can still open your account via the offline route. However, I would recommend you to open online as it is fast and easier.

In the trading world, you need to be tech-savvy and comfortable with doing things online. All the transactions (buy/sell) etc that you’re going to perform in future, once your account is opened, will be online and through advanced trading platforms. They will require you to be technically smart. And therefore, start taking the online route as you can’t ignore the digital path in the future.

How to open your account with Zerodha Online?

Short Answer to Open Your Zerodha Account

First of all, let me give a short answer on how to open your account at Zerodha before my step-by-step explanation.

To get started, here is the direct link to the account opening page at Zerodha.

On this page, the first step is to signup using your mobile number and verifying the OTP. Then you’ll be required to enter your PAN, bank account, Aadhar verification, and personal details to continue with the signup.

All the instructions are clearly mentioned in the each-step of the account opening page. If you are good at reading and following instructions efficiently, then you do not need to read this entire post. Just go to the account opening page, follow the instructions, upload the documents and your account will be opened.

Besides, if you face any difficulties while opening an account online, you could contact Zerodha at – 080 4913 2020.

A Quick Intro to DigiLocker

While opening your account online with Zerodha, it will ask you to connect with your DigiLocker account. However, if you are new to DigiLocker, let me give you a quick introduction about it.

I was quickly impressed with DigiLocker concept when I first heard about it in early 2017. DigiLocker is an online service provided by the Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India under its Digital India initiative. I always keep this app on my mobile phone and let me tell you why.

If you live in a city, many times, you may face a similar situation like this. You went out to buy some groceries from a nearby shop or to drop someone. And because of a hurry, you forgot your wallet. This means that you don’t have your Driving license or vehicle registration doc with you. Next, if a traffic police stop you, then it might be a little trouble for you to explain to them why you traveling without docs.

However, if you have the DigiLocker app on your phone, you can show the driving license and vehicle registration from the app itself. Motorists can show docs in Digi locker during a traffic check as it is provided by the government of India. Moreover, it is more secure and acceptable by traffic police compared to the camera pic that you keep in your phone gallery.

Further, you can also keep all your other important docs in DigiLocker app like Aadhar card, Pan Card, Driving License, Voter Id, Education certificate, etc.

Overall, if you don’t have a DigiLocker account yet, I’ll highly recommend you to open one and download the app on your phone. It will help you to keep all your docs secured.

Moreover, this account is required while performing Aadhar verification during your Zerodha Account opening.

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Detailed Step-by-step procedure to open your account with Zerodha online

Now that you’ve got a basic idea of how to open your account at Zerodha online and what are the docs/things required, next, let me give you a detailed step-by-step explanation of the process:

Step 1: Go to the Zerodha account opening page on your browser. Here is a direct link.

Step 2:  Enter your mobile number to sign-up. You’ll receive an instant OTP to verify the mobile number.

Step 3: Enter your full name and email id. Please enter your email address correctly as you’ll again receive an OTP to verify your email id. This is the same email where you’ll receive all your future correspondence from Zerodha. Enter the OTP that you’ve received on your email to verify your email address.

Step 4: Next, enter your PAN and date of birth (DOB) details in the field provided.

Step 5: Complete the account opening payment.

For equity– you’ve to pay Rs 200 and for commodity, the charge is Rs 100. You can complete the payment through UPI or Net-banking/Card payment.

Tick the checkboxes according to your requirement and click on ‘Pay & Continue’ button. Make sure to uncheck the commodity account, if you’re not planning to trade in it and save Rs 100.

After payment, you will see the Congratulations message displayed on the screen and receive an email regarding the payment confirmation.

Step 6: After completing the payment, it will ask you to connect Aadhar details via Digilocker.

As already mentioned earlier, you need to create a ‘DigiLocker: Towards Paperless Governance’ account and link your Aadhar with it. Click on ‘Connect to DigiLocker’ and this will open a new page to sign up to Digilocker using your phone number.

If you already have an account, click on ‘Sign in’ option in the bottom.

Step 7: After entering your DigiLocker account, select the Aadhar card. If you’re just created a new account, enter your Aadhar number and verify using OTP received on your phone.

After that, you need to click on ‘LINK YOUR DIGILOCKER WITH ZERODHA’.

Step 8: Once your Aadhar verification is complete, a new screen will come displaying “Let’s finish the application”. Here, you need to fill up more details starting by filling up Bank Details i.e. your bank account number, bank name and branch’s IFSC Code.

Below that, you have to fill some details like Marital status, Father’s first name, Father’s last name, etc. After entering the details, click ‘CONTINUE’

Step 9: Next is IPV Verification over webcam/phone.

IPV or In-person-verification is a process where a depository participant in personal verifies documents and other details as per the law by SEBI. It is compulsory for every investor to go through the in-person verification process before opening a demat and trading account.

Here, they’ll display an OTP on the screen. You need to write down this OTP show on a piece of paper or your smartphone. Then, hold the piece of paper/ mobile phone with the code in front of your mobile phone/ webcam.

Click on “Start IPV”, then click on “Take Video” and finally on “SAVE IPV”.

Step 10: Next, you will have the option to either Digitally sign the application with Aadhaar (mobile OTP) or else print & courier it. I will suggest you selecting Aadhaar Option as it is a faster approach.

Step 11: Upload scanned copy of the documents: Bank Account Proof, your current signature, PAN. Income Proof is optional & only required if you want to trade Futures & Options, currency, and commodity.

Step 12: Next, it’s time to eSign. Click on ‘eSign Equity’ button and proceed to the next step. Enter the ‘Security Code’ received on your registered Mobile no/Email and click on ‘submit’.

Step 13: In the next window, enter your Aadhaar number, tick the checkbox and click on ‘Request OTP’ button. Here, enter the OTP number received on your mobile. With this the eSign process for Equity is complete.

Note: If you also opted for commodity trading account, repeat the same process by clicking on ‘eSign commodity’ as shown in ‘Step 12 ‘.

Step 14: Once you’ve completed the application sign up, you will have to download the Demat POA (Power of attorney) form, fill it up & send it to the address mentioned below.

Address: Zerodha, #153/154 4th Cross Dollars Colony, Opp. Clarence Public School, J.P Nagar 4th Phase, Bangalore – 560078

Quick Note: Power of Attorney (POA) is a document that gives us the authorization to debit your shares from your demat account whenever you sell your shares. Most brokers ask for POA, however, it is optional these days applicable from June 1st, 2020. If you have not submitted the POA, you will be able to make intraday trades and place delivery sell instructions by using the CDSL TPIN. 

This mode of transfer has a limit of Rs. 2 lacs per scrip and Rs. 10 lacs overall per day for off-market transactions(Pledging). If you require to pledge securities greater than the off-market limit on a given day, you will need to send the POA.

Offline Account Opening Process

How to open your demat and trading account with Zerodha offline?

You can also open your account with Zerodha offline. However, the offline account opening charges are different than the online charges. Here are the charges for offline account opening:

• Rs. 400 – for Trading & Demat Account
• Rs. 600 – for Trading, Demat & Commodity account

In this approach, you will have to download application forms from Zerodha website, print out the forms, fill it up and sign it. If you need help at any point in filling out the application form you can call us on 080 4913 2020.

Here are the applications forms that you’ll need to fill and courier for account opening:

1. Application Form: Trading Account & Demat Account – Equity Segment
2. Application Form: Commodity segment
3. POA (Power Of Attorney) – Already included in the Application form above
4. ECN (Electronic Contract Note) for enabling Commodity segment – Already included in the application form 2
5. Nomination Form: In case you would like to appoint a nominee to your trading and DEMAT account like your wife, father, mother or any other.

The documents required for opening your account offline is the same as that of the online process. You need to get a photocopy of your PAN Card, Address proof (Aadhar Card, Driving License, Voter-Id etc), Cancelled Cheque/Bank statement, Income proof & Passport size photographs. You also have to cross sign as self-attest on all these docs. You can find the list of all acceptable docs for account opening here.

Once you fill it up and sign it, you have to send the application forms over to the Zerodha head office address:

#153/154 4th Cross Dollars Colony,
Opp. Clarence Public School,
J.P Nagar 4th Phase, Bangalore – 560078

Alternatively, you can schedule a meeting with a Zerodha representative at an address, date and time as per your convenience, by calling up the account opening helpline (080 4913 2020) or by placing a request with the sales manager assigned to you.

Here, a Zerodha representative will contact you and direct you to keep all such necessary documents ready at the decided time and place of the meeting. The representative would take all necessary signatures and self-attested documents/attachments as required to complete the account opening procedure.

What Next After Opening Your Zerodha Account?

Once your account is open, you can log in to this link or use the KITE app on your mobile. Here’s the link to the KITE trading platform.

Alternatively, you can also download the KITE app on android/iOS to start trading/investing in stocks. Besides, you can find the list of other Zerodha products like Console, Coin, Connect API, etc here.

Closing Thoughts

I will recommend using the online method while opening your account. Zerodha is working towards the Digital India initiative and you should be a part of it too. Although online methods seem to have too many steps, they do not take too long. Once you’ve started the application form, you can build a flow and complete the form within 15-20 minutes.

The offline method is good if you do not have an Aadhar card and you want to provide another address proof like Driving license, Voter Id, etc. However, if you are living in a village/small city, it might be a little difficult for you to get a Zerodha executive. Moreover, the offline method can easily take 7-10 days to open a demat and trading account.

That’s all. These are the steps to open a demat and trading account at Zerodha, online and offline. I hope this post on ‘How to open a Demat and trading account at Zerodha?’ is useful to the readers. If you have any doubts, comment below.