A locate is a requirement under Regulation SHO that brokers must confirm the availability of shares before a client can execute a short sale. At TradeZero, the locate process is handled directly inside the platform — you search a symbol, review the per-share fee, reserve the shares, and proceed to order entry without leaving your trading environment.

A hard-to-borrow (HTB) stock is a security with limited share availability for short selling. These are typically low-float, high-demand names where locating shares requires aggregating inventory across multiple sources. TradeZero's patented locator pulls from over 14 inventory sources to maximize availability on HTB symbols.

The TradeZero Locator is a patented short locate tool built directly into TZ1 and ZeroPro. Search any symbol, check non easy-to-borrow availability, and reserve shares — all from inside your trading environment. Locate inventory is available from 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET on all platforms.

TradeZero offers three locate types: standard locates, single-use locates, and pre-borrows. Each is suited to different strategies and hold durations. The system automatically prioritizes the most cost-effective option when available.

ProScanner is TradeZero's real-time stock scanner, built into TZ1 and ZeroPro at no extra cost. Filter by price action, volume, float size, and session-specific conditions. Save your setups, run up to three scan windows simultaneously, and move straight to locates and order entry from the same workspace.

Yes. TradeZero locate inventory becomes available at 4:00 AM ET, giving you access to hard-to-borrow names during pre-market hours. This allows you to secure shares ahead of the open, before availability on high-demand symbols tightens.

When eligible, you can return unused locates to the pool by marking shares for credit. You may potentially recoup a portion of the fee paid depending on availability — a useful option on days when your setups don't play out.

TradeZero supports Market Orders, Limit Orders, Stop Market Orders, Stop Limit Orders, Stop-Loss Orders, Market on Close Orders, Limit on Close Orders, Range Orders, Trailing Stop Orders and Conditional Orders.

A Stop-Loss order automatically closes your position when the price hits a level you set. For short sellers, a buy-to-cover triggers if the stock rises to your stop price — capping your downside without needing to watch the screen. Stop-loss orders are available across all TradeZero platforms.

A Trailing Stop is an order that follows your position as it moves in your favor. If you're short and the stock drops, the stop adjusts lower with it, protecting your gains without requiring you to manually move your exit. If the price reverses by the amount you've set, the order triggers and closes the position. TradeZero offers dollar amount Trailing Stops on ZeroPro and ZeroMobile.

Conditional orders let you chain multiple order actions together; if your entry executes, automatically set a limit and stop-loss simultaneously. Conditional orders are available on ZeroPro.

TradeZero combines a real-time stock scanner, a proprietary short locator with a 92.1% average fill rate, locate sell-backs for credit, and pre-market inventory from 4:00 AM ET — all inside one platform at no extra cost. Most brokers require third-party scanning tools, charge separately for locate access, or restrict short selling to large-cap names. TradeZero provides access across all market cap tiers and has been recognized as Best Broker for Short Selling at the Benzinga Fintech Awards six years running (2020–2025) and at the UF Awards MEA (2026).

The TradeZero Locator is available across all TradeZero platforms. ProScanner is available on TZ1 and ZeroPro. Both tools are integrated directly into the platforms, allowing you to access locate data and scan for opportunities without switching between different tools or interfaces.