Making your first profit in the stock market is an exhilarating milestone, but it often comes with a mix of hard work, learning, and a few mistakes along the way. As a beginner, I started with little knowledge and plenty of caution, but through research, discipline, and a clear strategy, I achieved my first ₹10,000 profit. In this blog post, I’ll share my journey, the steps I took, and the lessons I learned to help you navigate your own path in the stock market.
My Starting Point: A Beginner with Big Dreams
I began my stock market journey in early 2025, inspired by stories of wealth creation but aware of the risks. With no prior experience, I had ₹50,000 in savings to invest and a goal to make my first profit within six months. I knew I needed to learn the basics, manage risks, and avoid the temptation of get-rich-quick schemes. Here’s how I turned my goal into reality.
Step 1: Educating Myself
Before investing a single rupee, I spent two months learning the fundamentals of the stock market. I focused on understanding key concepts like:
- Stock Selection: How to evaluate companies based on financials (revenue, earnings, debt).
- Technical Analysis: Reading candlestick charts and using indicators like RSI and moving averages.
- Risk Management: Setting stop-losses and diversifying investments.
Resources I Used:
- Books: “The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham for fundamental investing principles.
- Apps: Moneycontrol for market news and Zerodha Varsity for free educational content.
- YouTube Channels: Indian finance creators like CA Rachana Phadke for practical tips.
- Online Courses: A beginner’s course on Udemy about technical analysis.
This groundwork gave me the confidence to make informed decisions rather than relying on tips or hype.
Step 2: Choosing the Right Tools
I opened a demat account with Zerodha Kite, drawn by its low brokerage (₹20 per order for intraday, zero for delivery) and user-friendly interface. I also used TradingView for charting and Screener to filter stocks based on fundamentals like low debt-to-equity ratios and high revenue growth. These tools helped me analyze stocks efficiently and execute trades seamlessly.
Step 3: Building a Simple Strategy
I decided to focus on swing trading—holding stocks for a few days to weeks to capture short-term price movements—because it suited my schedule and risk tolerance. My strategy was straightforward:
- Stock Selection: Pick 3-5 stocks from growing sectors like IT, banking, and consumer goods.
- Technical Criteria: Look for stocks near support levels with bullish candlestick patterns (e.g., Hammer, Bullish Engulfing) and RSI below 40 (oversold).
- Fundamental Check: Ensure the company had consistent revenue growth and a P/E ratio below its industry average.
- Risk Management: Risk no more than 2% of my capital per trade and set stop-losses at 5-7% below entry price.
I also practiced paper trading (simulated trades) on Zerodha for a month to test my strategy without risking real money.
Step 4: My First Trades
With ₹50,000 in my account, I started small, allocating ₹10,000-₹15,000 per trade to diversify and limit risk. Here’s how my first successful trades unfolded:
Trade 1: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
- Why I Chose It: TCS was in a steady uptrend, supported by global demand for IT services. Its P/E ratio (~32) was reasonable for the sector, and quarterly earnings showed 10% revenue growth.
- Entry: Bought 10 shares at ₹4,200 (total ₹42,000) after a Bullish Engulfing pattern formed near a 50-day moving average support.
- Exit: Sold at ₹4,500 after 10 days when RSI hit 70 (overbought), netting a profit of ₹3,000 (minus ₹40 brokerage).
- Why It Worked: Strong fundamentals, clear technical setup, and disciplined exit strategy.
Trade 2: Bajaj Finance Ltd.
- Why I Chose It: Bajaj Finance was undervalued compared to its historical P/E, with strong growth in consumer lending. A Hammer candlestick appeared after a dip.
- Entry: Bought 2 shares at ₹8,500 (total ₹17,000) when RSI was 35, indicating oversold conditions.
- Exit: Sold at ₹9,250 after a week when the stock hit a resistance level, earning ₹1,500 profit (minus ₹40 brokerage).
- Why It Worked: Combining technical signals with fundamental strength ensured a high-probability trade.
Trade 3: ICICI Bank
- Why I Chose It: ICICI Bank showed resilience despite market volatility, with a low P/B ratio (~2.5) and digital banking growth.
- Entry: Bought 15 shares at ₹1,200 (total ₹18,000) after a breakout above a key resistance with high volume.
- Exit: Sold at ₹1,350 after two weeks when MACD signaled a bearish crossover, making ₹2,250 profit (minus ₹40 brokerage).
- Why It Worked: Timing the breakout and exiting before a pullback maximized gains.
Additional Trades
I executed a few smaller trades in stocks like Infosys and Mahindra & Mahindra, following the same strategy. These added ~₹3,290 to my profits after brokerage fees. My total profit reached ₹10,000 in four months, with a mix of wins and a couple of small losses (offset by stop-losses).
Lessons Learned
My journey to ₹10,000 wasn’t without challenges. Here are the key lessons that shaped my success:
- Start Small: Investing small amounts reduced my fear of losing and allowed me to learn without major setbacks.
- Stick to the Plan: Emotional decisions, like holding a losing trade too long, cost me early on. Following my strategy religiously improved results.
- Keep Learning: Every trade taught me something new, from spotting false breakouts to refining stop-loss levels.
- Manage Risk: Stop-losses saved me from bigger losses, and diversifying across sectors cushioned volatility.
- Avoid Hype: I ignored social media tips and focused on data-driven decisions, which kept me grounded.
Mistakes I Made
- Overtrading: Early on, I traded too frequently, racking up brokerage fees and diluting focus. I learned to wait for high-probability setups.
- Ignoring News: A sudden market dip due to FII outflows caught me off-guard. I started tracking Moneycontrol for macro updates.
- Chasing Losses: After a ₹1,000 loss, I rushed into a risky trade to recover, losing another ₹500. Patience became my mantra.
Tips for Beginners
If you’re starting your stock market journey, here’s what I recommend based on my experience:
- Invest in Education: Spend 1-2 months learning before trading. Free resources like Zerodha Varsity are invaluable.
- Use Reliable Apps: Choose SEBI-registered platforms like Zerodha, Upstox, or Groww for safety and low costs.
- Practice First: Paper trade for at least a month to build confidence in your strategy.
- Start with ₹10,000-₹20,000: Small capital minimizes risk while you learn the ropes.
- Track Everything: Maintain a trading journal to record entries, exits, and emotions. It helps identify patterns.
- Stay Disciplined: Set clear rules for entries, exits, and risk, and don’t deviate under pressure.
Final Thoughts
Making my first ₹10,000 profit in the stock market was a thrilling achievement, but it required patience, discipline, and continuous learning. By educating myself, choosing reliable tools like Zerodha and TradingView, and sticking to a simple swing trading strategy, I turned my ₹50,000 into ₹60,000 in four months. The journey wasn’t perfect—I faced losses and made mistakes—but each step taught me how to trade smarter. Whether you’re aiming for ₹10,000 or more, start small, stay focused, and let your profits grow with time.
Disclaimer: The stock market involves significant risks, and past performance does not guarantee future results. This post reflects a personal experience and is not investment advice. Always conduct thorough research and consult a certified financial advisor before trading.