Most traders pass a challenge on a fixed account size. A scaling plan is the firm’s promise to make that account bigger if you keep performing, so the same percentage returns pay more. The headline maximum is always large. The conditions are what matter.

FTMO’s scaling plan, line by line

ConditionFTMO’s published terms
How oftenEvery 4 months of trading on the FTMO Account (or since the last scale-up)
Increase25% of the account balance each time
Maximum$2,000,000 across all your FTMO Accounts
Profit neededAt least 10% net profit above the starting balance in those 4 months
Payouts neededAt least 2 processed rewards in the same period
BalancePositive at the time of the scale-up
Applies toAccounts from the 1-Step or 2-Step Challenge; not the FTMO Instant Account
Profit share90% on the 2-Step through scaling (80% before)

What the growth looks like

Each step is 25 per cent of the current size, so growth compounds slowly: a $100,000 account becomes $125,000 after the first qualifying four months, then about $156,000, then about $195,000. Reaching the $2,000,000 ceiling from $100,000 would take many years of meeting the conditions every period.

What the growth looks like. 4 months: $125,000; 8 months: $156,250; 12 months: $195,313; 16 months: $244,141
What the growth looks like: the figures from this section at a glance.
AfterAccount size (from $100,000)
4 months$125,000
8 months$156,250
12 months$195,313
16 months$244,141

Each step also needs 10 per cent net profit in four months and two payouts. That is roughly 2.5 per cent a month, every period, without breaching the daily or maximum loss rules. Few traders sustain it, which is why the ceiling is rarely reached.

How to judge a scaling plan

  • How much profit is required per period, and over how long.
  • Whether payouts in the period are required, or reset the count.
  • Whether the drawdown rules scale with the account or stay at the old size.
  • Whether the profit share rises, as FTMO’s does on the 2-Step.
  • Whether the plan applies to the account type you are buying.

A realistic scaling plan rewards steady months. Treat any plan that needs double-digit monthly returns to progress as marketing.

Frequently asked

What is a prop firm scaling plan?

A promise to increase your funded account size after a period of profitable trading. At FTMO the account grows by 25 per cent every four months, up to $2,000,000, if you meet its profit and payout conditions.

What do you need to scale an FTMO account?

At least 10 per cent net profit above the starting balance in four months, at least two processed rewards in that period, and a positive balance at the time of the scale-up. It does not apply to the FTMO Instant Account.

Does the profit split change when you scale?

At FTMO, the 2-Step account's share rises to 90 per cent through the Scaling Plan, from 80 per cent by default.

How long does it take to reach $2 million at FTMO?

Many years. Growing 25 per cent every four months, a $100,000 account is about $195,000 after a year, and every step needs 10 per cent net profit and two payouts in the period.