This guide introduces you to OptionSearcher and should provide some potential option investment alternatives you could use right now.

How to get access to all the OptionSearcher investment tools:

First you need to sign up for the 10-Day free trial so you can have access to all the OptionSearcher features. Click the 10-Day Free Trial button here to sign up. You can also sign up a joint membership with OptionSearcher and WinningInvestments.com, for a partial rebate. For more information on that feature, click here.

A note about making options investments with your broker.

In order to get started trading options, investors need to obtain permission from their broker. Since writing a covered call means that you already own the stock you have agreed to sell, everyone should be able to obtain permission from their broker to trade covered calls. We have not heard of anyone having problems getting permission, so if you do run into any problems, we suggest that you look for a different broker or make sure that your broker has a clear understanding of what you are trying to do.

After you receive permission you are ready to begin.

If you're looking for a broker with great service and commissions for option investors, OptionSearcher does not recommend one specific broker. We do however, encourage you to look at online brokers, such as Charles Schwab, ETrade, Ameritrade, etc. Among those, we would suggest that you determine your broker based on your own criteria, which most likely includes such factors as commission costs, website reliability, customer service, etc.

The OptionSearcher tutorial - A quick introduction to options.

The first step is to read through the OptionSearcher tutorial to familiarize yourself with our web site tools and option investing in general. This will be a good overview before you go through the step-by-step guide.

To get to the OptionSearcher covered calls tutorial, please click here.

One Strike Tool

Use this to find the potential returns for the two closest options for an equity or index symbol that you enter. To get to the OneStrike Tool:

1. Click the Login Here link if you have not already done so. The member Login display will appear.
2. Enter your Used ID and password, then click on the Login button and the OptionSearcher Search Tools menu will appear.
3. Click on the OneStrike option to get the search menu.

For more information on what the column headings mean, click the heading title.

The SmartSearch Tool

Use this to find the highest return options.

To get to the SmartSearch tool:

1. Click the Login Here link if you have not already done so. The member Login display will appear.
2. Enter your user ID and password then click the Login button and the OptionSearcher Search Tools Menu will appear.
3. Click the SmartSearch option to get the search menu.

For more information on what the column headings mean, click the heading title.

Option Chain Tool

Use this report to view option chains with complete information and analysis. The option chain is the list of all the call and put options available for a certain stock, along with the related information and analysis about that option.

To get to the Option Chain Tool:

1. Click the Login Here link if you have not already done so. The member Login display will appear.
2. Enter your user ID and password then click the Login button and the Search Tools Menu will appear.
3. Click the Option Chain Tool menu option.

So what is the Call Chain table telling you and what do you do next?

The information in this table will give you an edge over other investors. For example; The Black Sch. (Black-Scholes Price) column shows the theoretical price of the option. Compare it to the actual option bid, ask, and last prices and you can see if the option is over or under priced. If it is under priced you may have found a bargain.

There may be more than one page of results. If so, click Next Page at the bottom of the table to get to the next page.

For more information on what the column headings mean, click the heading title.

Report Tools

Use this to find which calls and puts come from popular screening methods.

To get to the Reports Tool:

1. Click the Member Login link if you have not already done so. The member Login display will appear.
2. Enter your Used ID and password, then click on the Login button and the OptionSearcher Search Tool menu will appear.
3. Click on the Reports Tool option to get the search menu.

Now you are in the Reports Tool menu. Once you are there, perform the following steps:

1. Select the option expiration date you would like to search for using the scroll down bar.
2. Select the particular call or put report you are looking for using the scroll down bar.
3. Click on the Search button. Note that if you select a Call report, you cannot also select a Put report.

For more information on what the column headings mean, click the heading title.

This guide should give you a start on exploring OptionSearcher. Try to sample all of the many features, information, and data tables.

If after going through this guide and the tutorial you have any questions related to OptionSearcher, we are here to help you. E-mail us at info@optionsearcher.com.