Get Funded — Trade With Someone Else’s Capital
Prop firms let you trade with their money after passing an evaluation. Here’s what you need to know before you spend a dollar.
What Are Prop Firms?
Proprietary trading firms (“prop firms”) offer a deal: prove you can trade profitably, and they’ll give you a funded account with their capital. You keep a share of the profits—typically 80–90%.
How it works: You pay an evaluation fee → trade a simulated account following their rules → pass the evaluation → receive a funded account → split profits with the firm.
Why it exists: Firms want access to skilled traders without training them from scratch. Traders want capital they don’t have. The evaluation fee covers the firm’s screening costs—and, in many cases, represents their primary revenue stream.
The Honest Numbers
Read This Before You Spend Money on an Evaluation
- 74–89% of retail traders lose money (SEC, FCA, and ASIC regulatory data)
- ~5–15% estimated pass rate for prop firm evaluations
- Most traders who pass evaluations lose their funded accounts within the first few months
- Evaluation fees are how most prop firms make their primary revenue
Major Futures Prop Firms
Here are four well-known prop firms that offer futures evaluations. Prices, rules, and profit splits change frequently. Always verify current terms on each firm’s website before purchasing.
Apex Trader Funding
Topstep
Earn2Trade
FTMO
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. Prices and terms are approximate and subject to change. We are not affiliated with any of these firms unless explicitly disclosed.
For International Traders
Trading From Latin America or Outside the US
Most major prop firms accept international traders. Here’s what to expect:
- You’ll likely need to complete a W-8BEN tax form — this is a US withholding form, not a tax obligation in your country
- Payout methods: Bank wire, Wise (TransferWise), PayPal, and some firms support crypto payouts — varies by firm
- Some firms specifically support local payment methods like OXXO (Mexico) and local bank transfers
- All profits and account balances are in USD
- Note: Regulations vary by country. Always verify your local laws regarding trading and prop firm participation before investing in an evaluation
How Quant Fits In
Quant is a tool — it generates trading signals based on systematic price structure analysis. During prop firm evaluations, Quant’s signals can help with disciplined entries and exits.
Quant does not guarantee passing any evaluation. No algorithm can. Trading involves risk, and prop firm rules add additional constraints that no signal provider can account for.
Even with a 53% win rate edge, you WILL have losing streaks. How you handle those streaks — emotionally and mechanically — determines whether you keep your funded account.
The mental game is what separates those who pass from those who don’t. Quant gives you a systematic framework, but discipline, risk management, and psychology matter more than any single algorithm.
Before You Buy an Evaluation
Can You Check All Five Boxes?
- Have you paper traded for at least 30 days?
- Can you follow Quant’s signals without overriding them emotionally?
- Do you understand the specific rules of the prop firm you’re considering?
- Have you calculated how much you can afford to lose on evaluation fees?
- Are you treating this as a business expense, not a lottery ticket?