A prop firm payout is a share of the profit on your funded account, paid to you under the firm’s terms. Because the account is usually simulated, the payout is not a withdrawal of your own money. It is a reward the firm pays from its own funds, which is why the rules around it are worth reading as closely as the trading rules.

The four parts of every payout policy

  1. The split. The share of profit you keep, usually 80 to 90 per cent.
  2. The waiting period. How long after your first trade, or your last payout, you can ask again.
  3. The conditions. Closed positions, a minimum amount, sometimes a number of profitable days or a consistency check.
  4. The review and payment. How long the firm takes to check and pay, and by which methods.

A worked example: FTMO

FTMO publishes each of these, so it is a clear reference:

A worked example: FTMO. Split: 80% by default on the 2-Step; 90% on the 1-Step and FTMO Instant; the 2-Step rises to 90% through its scaling or Premium programme; First request: On the 14th day after your first trade on the account, or any day after; Conditions: All positions and pending orders closed; at least $20 of closed profit ($50 for crypto); Review and payment: Reviewed within 1–2 business days, then usually sent within 1–2 business days; Methods: Bank wire, Visa Dire
A worked example: FTMO: the figures from this section at a glance.
FTMO’s published terms
Split80% by default on the 2-Step; 90% on the 1-Step and FTMO Instant; the 2-Step rises to 90% through its scaling or Premium programme
First requestOn the 14th day after your first trade on the account, or any day after
ConditionsAll positions and pending orders closed; at least $20 of closed profit ($50 for crypto)
Review and paymentReviewed within 1–2 business days, then usually sent within 1–2 business days
MethodsBank wire, Visa Direct or Mastercard Send (up to $20,000), Skrill (up to $3,000), crypto
Challenge fee2-Step fee refunded with the first reward; 1-Step and Instant fees not refunded

Futures firm Topstep says its funded traders keep 90 per cent of profits. Payout terms differ more between firms than trading rules do, so compare them before you buy a challenge, not after you pass.

Your first payout, step by step

  1. Check the date: count the waiting period from your first trade on the funded account.
  2. Close every position and cancel pending orders, if the firm requires it.
  3. Make sure your profit clears the minimum and any consistency or profitable-days rule.
  4. Request the payout in the firm’s dashboard and choose the method.
  5. Expect an identity check, and sometimes a review of your trades for banned strategies, before payment.

Ask for a small first payout. It tests the firm’s process with little at stake and starts your record of being paid. Our guide to checking that a firm actually pays explains what else to look for.

Why payouts get refused

  • A banned strategy found in review, such as trading against yourself on two accounts or exploiting price feed delays.
  • Breaking a rule you missed: news trading windows, a consistency cap, or a maximum lot size.
  • Identity documents that do not match the account holder, or a payment account in someone else’s name.
  • Requesting before the waiting period is over or with open positions.

A firm that pays slowly, keeps changing its payout rules or pays only a fraction of requests is showing the most reliable warning sign in this industry. See prop firm withdrawal problems.

Frequently asked

How do prop firm payouts work?

You request a share of the profit on your funded account, usually 80 to 90 per cent, once a waiting period has passed and your positions are closed. The firm reviews the request, checks your trading against its rules and pays by bank, card transfer, e-wallet or crypto.

When can I take my first payout at FTMO?

From the 14th day after your first trade on the account, with all positions closed and at least $20 of closed profit ($50 for crypto). FTMO says it reviews requests within 1 to 2 business days.

What profit split do prop firms pay?

Usually 80 to 90 per cent. FTMO pays 80 per cent by default on the 2-Step and 90 per cent on the 1-Step and Instant accounts, and Topstep says its funded traders keep 90 per cent.

Do I get my challenge fee back?

It depends on the firm and the plan. FTMO refunds the 2-Step Challenge fee with your first reward, but not the 1-Step or Instant fee.