Foreign exchange brokers are unlike others financial brokers, they do not take commission from customer. However, they only work for banks. Their roles are to bring together buyers and sellers into the market,and to optimize the price showing to their customers quickly, accurately, and authentically executing the traders' orders.

The majority of the foreign exchange brokers execute business via phone using an open box system there is a microphone with the broker and let him communicate on the direct phone lines to the speaker boxes in the banks. By using this way, all banks can hear all the deals which are being executed. Due to the open box system, a trader is also able to hear all prices quoted; whether the bid was hit or the offer taken; and the following price. What the trader will not be able to hear are the amount of particular bids and the names of the banks showing the prices. Prices are unidentified. Sometimes, brokers charge a commission that is paid equally by the buyer and the seller. The fees are negotiated on an individual basis by the bank and the brokerage firm as well.

Brokers show their customers about the prices made by other customers either two-way (bid and offer) prices or one way (bid or offer) prices from his or her customers. Traders show different prices because they "read" the market in a different way; they have different opportunities and different interests. A broker who has more than one price on one or both parties will automatically optimize the price. That means, the broker will always show the highest bid and the lowest offer. Therefore, the market has the right to entry an optimal spread. Fundamental and technical analysis are used to predict the future direction of the currency. A trader might analyze the market by hitting a bid for a small amount to see if there is any response. Another advantage is that brokers might provide a broader selection of banks to their clients. Some European and Asian banks have overnight desks for 24 hours optimization dealing with counterparts in American banks,it is adding to the liquidity of the market.