So you want to learn how to day trade but don’t know where to begin? Say less! 

Step one would be understanding exactly what the stock market is and how you can use it to make money. The U.S. stock market is lead by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq, wherein companies allow “shares” of their business to be traded among public investors. The value of said shares will fluctuate throughout the day, the expectation being that the value will increase and the purchaser is able to profit on the rise.

The U.S. stock exchange is regulated by the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), which will protect investors and traders from being deceived by potentially shady doings. The Over-the-Counter Market (OTC) trades securities between brokers and dealers rather than an exchange, and consists mostly of stocks that do not meet certain requirements to be listed on the NYSE or Nasdaq. The OTC Market consists primarily of “penny stocks,” where values typically trade under $1/share.

The U.S. stock market is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time, with “pre-market” trading beginning at 4 a.m. and “after hours” trading running from 4 p.m. until 8. Companies will typically release news pertaining to their practices in the pre-market hours, which draws attention to their stock and will set the tone for how the stock will trade once the market opens. Other catalysts that may affect the stock price include earning calls, an offering of common stock or a proposed sale of the company. The good news for traders is that nary a day goes by where one of these factors is not in play.

Markets are closed on weekends and most U.S. holidays, leaving roughly 250 trading days in a year. Depending on how you choose to trade, that gives you 250 opportunities to muster enough profit to set yourself up for early retirement.