Getting Started

Setup.Cash is a workflow platform for building, testing, and operating rule-based trading strategies. It is not a signal service and it does not guarantee results. The goal is to help you define a strategy clearly, validate it with backtesting, and practice execution with paper trading before you risk capital.

If you are new to the platform, this guide shows the fastest path to a first working blueprint.

What You Need Before You Start

Before you open the builder, prepare four things:

1. A market and timeframe you want to test (for example, EURUSD on 15m, BTCUSD on 1h, or a stock index ETF on 5m).
2. A simple setup idea with clear conditions (for example, trend filter + pullback entry + stop + target).
3. A risk rule (fixed dollar risk, percent risk, or max daily loss).
4. A realistic goal for the first version: clarity, not optimization.

If you do not have a strategy yet, start with a minimal rule set and improve it later. A simple strategy that is easy to review is better than a complex one you cannot explain.

Related pages:

• Build a Trading Bot
• No-Code Trading Bot
• Strategy Builder
• Pricing

Step 1: Create an Account and Open the Builder

Create an account from signup, then open the visual builder at the TradeBluePrint strategy builder. You can also review the broader product workflow from your dashboard.

When the builder loads, focus on the sequence rather than the visuals:

1. Inputs / market context
2. Indicators / signal transforms
3. Logic / confirmation rules
4. Execution / entry and exit rules
5. Risk management / position and limits

This structure matters because it forces you to answer the right questions in the right order.

Step 2: Create Your First Blueprint (Minimal Version)

Start with a blueprint that has only one setup path. Avoid adding multiple branches on day one.

A strong first blueprint usually includes:

• Market session filter (or time-of-day rule)
• A trend or context filter
• One trigger condition
• Stop-loss logic
• Take-profit or exit logic
• Invalidation condition

Example blueprint (pseudo steps):

Session filter -> Trend filter -> Pullback condition -> Entry trigger -> Stop/Target -> Max risk check

This is enough to run a meaningful backtest and paper trading rehearsal. Add complexity only after the first version behaves the way you expect.

For detailed blueprint design patterns, continue with Creating Your First Blueprint.

Step 3: Add Risk Controls Before You Test

A common mistake is building entry logic first and treating risk as an afterthought. In practice, risk rules determine whether a strategy is usable.

At minimum, define:

• Risk per trade
• Maximum open exposure
• Stop-loss placement method
• Take-profit or exit condition
• Max trades per session/day
• Conditions that pause execution (news, spread, volatility, etc.)

Use the platform's risk-first workflow and review the Risk Management for Trading Bots page for a practical overview. For test methodology and drawdown review, use the Backtesting docs.

Step 4: Run a Baseline Backtest

Your first backtest is not for proving that the strategy is profitable. It is for checking whether the rules behave as intended.

Focus on these checks:

• Are entries happening where you expected?
• Are exits following the blueprint rules?
• Is the trade frequency realistic?
• Is drawdown larger than your risk assumptions?
• Are you relying on one unusual market period?

Read the dedicated Backtesting docs and the landing page for Backtesting before making major changes.

External references for methodology:

• CFTC Customer Education
• Investor.gov (U.S. SEC)
• Wikipedia: Backtesting

Step 5: Move to Paper Trading (Not Live Yet)

If the backtest is structurally sound, move to a paper trading rehearsal. Paper trading helps you confirm that the blueprint behaves correctly under live data timing and session conditions.

Use paper trading to answer these questions:

• Does the strategy trigger as expected in real-time conditions?
• Are your stops and targets placed consistently?
• Are you following the process or overriding it?
• Are there data, latency, or session assumptions that need adjustment?

Use Paper Trading and the article Paper Trading vs Live Trading: When to Switch as your next step.

Common Mistakes During Onboarding

1) Starting with a complex strategy

Complexity hides mistakes. Build one setup path first.

2) Optimizing before validating logic

If the rules are unclear, optimization only makes the confusion look precise.

3) Ignoring risk controls until the end

Risk rules are part of the strategy, not a separate module.

4) Treating backtest output as proof

Backtests are evidence, not certainty. Use them to validate behavior and find failure modes.

5) Skipping paper trading

Paper trading is where many execution assumptions break. Use it.

Recommended First-Week Workflow

Day 1: Setup and first blueprint

• Create account
• Open builder
• Define one simple strategy
• Add stop and target logic

Day 2: Baseline backtest

• Run initial test
• Inspect trade list and outcomes
• Fix obvious rule mismatches

Day 3: Risk review

• Add/adjust position sizing and limits
• Re-run baseline test

Day 4-5: Paper trading rehearsal

• Run the blueprint in paper mode
• Log issues and refine rules

Day 6-7: Documentation and iteration

• Write down what changed and why
• Save a clean version before further experiments

FAQ

Do I need to connect a broker to start?

No. You can start with strategy creation, backtesting, and paper trading workflows before any live broker connection setup.

How much coding do I need?

None for the baseline workflow. Setup.Cash is designed around no-code strategy blueprints.

What if my first strategy fails the backtest?

That is a good outcome if it reveals weak assumptions early. Use the result to refine the rules before risking capital.

Can I use the platform for forex, crypto, and stocks?

Yes, the strategy-building workflow is designed for multiple markets. Data and execution availability depend on your configuration.

Next Steps

• Read Creating Your First Blueprint
• Read Backtesting & Metrics
• Explore Trading Bot Builder
• Start with Create a Trading Bot
• Review blog guides

Not financial advice. Trading involves risk.