Your First Steps

You've learned what Trader Node does and how to navigate it. Now let's add some real data so you can see the platform in action.

Choose Your Starting Point

Where you start depends on your current situation as a trader:

If you're working on prop firm challenges: Start by adding your active challenges. This lets you track costs and progress right away.

If you already have funded accounts: Add your funded accounts first, especially if you've received payouts. This captures your revenue.

If you trade your own capital: Begin with your private accounts. Set up each broker account with its current balance.

If you do all of the above: Start with whatever has the most recent activity. You can always add more later.

Adding Your First Challenge

If you're currently working on a prop firm evaluation:

  1. Click Challenges in the sidebar

  2. Click the Add Challenge button in the top right

  3. Fill in the required information:

    • Challenge Name — Give it a descriptive name like "FTMO 100K January"

    • Prop Firm — Select your prop firm

    • Account Size — The funded amount you're working toward

    • Challenge Type — Single phase, 2-step, 3-step, etc.

    • Cost — How much you paid for this challenge

    • Currency — The currency of the account

  4. Click Create Challenge

Your challenge will appear in the table. Click on it to:

  • Update the status as you progress

  • Add phase details

  • Record the end date when you finish

Adding Your First Funded Account

If you already have a funded account generating payouts:

  1. Click Funded Accounts in the sidebar

  2. Click the Add Account button

  3. Fill in the details:

    • Account Name — Something recognizable like "FTMO 200K Main"

    • Prop Firm — Which firm provided the funding

    • Account Size — The funded capital amount

    • Currency — Account currency

    • Funding Type — Evaluation-based or Instant

    • Platform — MT4, MT5, cTrader, etc.

  4. Click Create Account

Once created, click the account to record any payouts you've received:

  1. Go to the Payouts tab in the drawer

  2. Click Add Payout

  3. Enter the amount and date

  4. Mark it as Approved if you've already received the money

Adding Your First Private Account

If you trade your own money:

  1. Click Private Accounts in the sidebar

  2. Click Add Account

  3. Enter the information:

    • Account Name — Like "IC Markets Live"

    • Broker — Your broker name

    • Platform — MT4, MT5, etc.

    • Currency — Account currency

    • Starting Balance — Your current balance (this cannot be changed later)

  4. Click Create Account

Important: The starting balance sets your baseline. From this point forward, the platform will calculate your profit or loss based on balance changes minus deposits plus withdrawals.

Recording a Transaction

For general business expenses like software or education:

  1. Click Transactions in the sidebar

  2. Click Add Transaction

  3. Choose:

    • Type — Income or Expense

    • Name — What it's for (e.g., "TradingView Subscription")

    • Category — Select the most appropriate category

    • Amount — How much

    • Date — When it occurred

    • Payment Status — Paid if the money has moved, Unpaid if pending

  4. Click Add Transaction

Remember: Only "Paid" transactions affect your Dashboard numbers.

Check Your Dashboard

After adding some data, head to the Dashboard to see it in action:

  • The Business Health Summary will show whether you're positive, negative, or flat

  • KPI cards will display your totals

  • Module summary cards will show counts and recent activity

If you just added data and don't see it reflected, check:

  • The date range filter (top right) — make sure it includes your data

  • The currency filter — make sure it's set to "All Currencies" or the specific currency you used

What to Do Next

Once you've added your first items, consider these next steps:

Build Out Your History

If you have historical data, take time to add it:

  • Past challenges (even failed ones) help track total costs

  • Previous payouts give you accurate revenue totals

  • Old transactions complete your expense picture

Set Up Your Tags

Tags help you organize and filter data later. Think about categories that matter to you:

  • By market (Forex, Futures, Crypto)

  • By strategy

  • By time period

  • By goal

Establish a Routine

The platform works best when you keep it updated:

  • Weekly: Record any payouts received, update challenge status

  • Monthly: Review Dashboard, add any missed transactions, update private account balances

  • Quarterly: Generate reports, review business health trends

Keep It Simple at First

You don't need to add everything on day one. Start with:

  1. Your currently active challenges and accounts

  2. Recent transactions (last 30-90 days)

  3. Any payouts you've received

You can always backfill historical data later when you have time. The important thing is to start tracking from today forward.

You're ready to go! Explore the detailed guides for each module when you need to learn more about specific features.

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