What Is a Prop Firm?
A prop firm (proprietary trading firm) gives skilled traders access to the firm's capital. You prove you can trade within their rules by passing an evaluation, they fund you, and you split the profits. For futures, this lets you trade a large account without risking that money yourself.
How it works
- Pay a small fee and pass an evaluation (hit a profit target within drawdown rules).
- Get a funded account trading the firm's money.
- Keep the majority of profits (often an 80–90% split).
- Request payouts once you've built profit.
Why traders use them
You get access to serious buying power for a small upfront cost, and your personal downside is limited to the eval fee. The catch: you must trade within their risk rules, which is actually good discipline.
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Are prop firms legit?
The established futures firms (TopStep, MyFundedFutures, Apex, Take Profit Trader and others) are widely used. Always verify current rules and read reviews.
How much can you make?
It depends entirely on your skill and the account size. Most people don't pass; those who do keep the majority of what they make.
Educational content only, not financial advice. Trading futures carries substantial risk of loss.