Are prop firms a scam? (2024)

Prop firms aren’t the only way to scale up your trading… but they’re one of the fastest ways.

The thing is…

I’ve gotten comments like these over the past week:

“Nonsense! Prop firms are a scam, looking for traders who will pay for challenges and then fail. That’s how they make their $”

So I thought it’d be worth addressing it.

===

In case you weren’t aware of it…

Prop firms are companies that fund traders with certain rules once they pass an evaluation period.

(1) Why do they ask for an evaluation?

While there’s a sign up fee for it, prop firms can’t afford to risk capital on losing traders.

Back when I started trading in 2013, you could get a funded account but had to deposit $5k to cover your drawdown (5% on a $100k account).

Any loss would be taken on your “deposit”.

These days conditions are much better…

The sign up fee you pay (usually 1% of the account) helps cover those who get funded and blow up the account.

In many cases…

Once you’ve made a certain % on the account, the max drawdown is locked at the starting balance… so there’s no downside for the firm and they get paid from your profits.

You can make the returns you want collecting your profit share, but need to respect the rules (i.e. not lose too much).

It’s a good business model both for the trader who’s trading profitably… and the prop firm.

After all the prop firm gets paid too if you perform well… which is worth way more than just a sign up fee.

===

But I’m not saying all prop firms are legit though.

In the last year, some prop firms have closed whileothers have been accused of making trading conditions bad on purpose.

There’s lots of bad apples making it look bad for everyone else 🙁

But that’s why picking a good prop firm who’s been around for a while… and backed by live capital is important.

And it’s always better not to put all your eggs in one basket.

Meaning, you can get accounts with multiple prop firms and diversify your funds.

===

Here are some other Qs you might be interested in:

(2) Why’s the max. drawdown so low?

While prop firms are offering a 5% to 7% max drawdown before the account gets terminated…. and some people are complaining about it, it’s really not uncommon in the trading industry.

Traders in big institutions have to stick to much stricter rules…

You can’t just get unlimited drawdown and expect no one will say a word if you blow up 20% of your account.

The easy way around it through is to reduce your risk per trade.

Yes, you’ll make less money… but you can focus on trading bigger account sizes.

(3) Why can’t I trade the news / over the week-end?

In most cases, that’s because trading during news events or holding trades over the week-end adds risk.

You get slippage during a news and could lose more than you anticipated.

There could also be a gap in the market after a week-end.

If you want to do these things and the prop firm incurs extra risk, they’ll let you do it… but might charge you a slightly higher sign up fee.

(4) What are my odds of passing?

From what I’ve gathered, nearly 90% of traders fail the prop firm evaluation they start.

It’s not that far off from the saying: *“95% of traders lose money.”*

But that’s because most of the traders who take on prop firm evaluations aren’t even profitable in the first place.

They’re hoping to get lucky…

I’ve been able to prove that with proper training and good trading strategies, that failure rate can get much lower.

Those who do what we teach in Ultimate Prop Firm Trading have an 80% chance of passing a prop firm evaluation on the first try.

Much better than the industry average of 10% 🙂

In the rare case they don’t pass…

I’ve got a guarantee of success with my program and will help them make it work the next time around.

And if I can’t, I refund them 🙂

===

This is what I do inside of Ultimate Prop Firm Trading

Not only will I teach you my proven strategies, build your mindset & funded traders skills

I’ll also pay for your first $25,000 prop firm evaluation once you’re ready… which if you pass, will be trading on real capital.

So if you want to join us and get funded 5-6 figures by a prop firm… on your way to a full-time income in 2024?

You’ll get all the info you need to start below:

Click here to read the details & get started

If you need a refresher, here’s what you get by signing up now:

  • 9-module course to build professional trading skills
  • Complimentary prop firm challenge
  • Trading strategies with metrics prop firms will love
  • Risk management plan for prop trading
  • Monthly trader mastermind calls
  • Bonus #1: Complimentary $25k funded evaluation
  • Bonus #2: Pre-evaluation 1-1 coaching call
  • Bonus #3: Proven crypto strategy TradingView scripts

Keep crushing it 💪 📈

Are prop firms a scam? (2024)

FAQs

Do prop firms really pay out? ›

Statistics on Average Trader Payouts

Profit Split: The average prop firm will offer a 80-20 profit split once you become a funded trader. TFT, on the other hand, gives up to a 90% split, — even as high as 95% in some promotions — the highest in the industry.

How to check if prop firm is legit? ›

Look for the firm on rating sites (such as TrustPilot). See if the firm is on lists of good prop firms (such as this one). Read what traders say about the firm. Remember, though, that ratings sometimes can be manipulated, and reviews can be fake.

What percentage of people pass prop firm challenges? ›

The article from Lux Trading Firm provides slightly different results. According to it, 4% of traders, on average, pass prop firm challenges. But only 1% of traders kept their funded accounts for a reasonable amount of time.

How hard is it to pass a prop firm challenge? ›

With the Prop Firm challenges, it's not just about failing or winning. You must be profitable and fulfill certain trading objectives which makes it even harder. Less than 1% of traders who attempt the challenge pass and get funded.

What is the failure rate of FTMO? ›

According to FTMO statistics, only about 10% of traders are able to pass the funded account challenge at any account level. This means approximately 90% of aspiring funded traders fail the evaluation and are unable to gain access to the firm's capital.

Are prop firms a pyramid? ›

There is a very slim likelihood that they will succeed if the prop firm does not have their best interests in mind. Actually, one could compare the 95% of prop companies to a pyramid scheme. They either set you up to fail or compensate you with other traders' losses.

Do prop firms really work? ›

Prop firms are an excellent source of accessing further capital to increase profit potential. Passing a prop firm's evaluation means reaching a profit target while staying within its risk management rules.

What are the negatives of prop firms? ›

- Traders in prop firms often have limited control over the firm's capital. They may need to deposit their own money as collateral or risk management. - Additionally, payouts are subject to the firm's rules, which may restrict a trader's access to profits.

What happens if you lose money in a prop firm? ›

Proprietary trading firms often provide evaluation accounts where you prove your trading skills. Usually, you pay a one-time fee to enter this "challenge." If you lose money during this evaluation, you won't owe anything beyond the initial fee.

Which is the cheapest prop firm? ›

Top Best Cheapest Prop Trading Firms
  • 1) Funded Trading Plus.
  • 2) FTMO.
  • 3) TopStepTrader.
  • 4) Fidelcrest.
  • 5) LuxTradingFirm.
  • 6) OneUp Trader.
  • 7) FTUK.
  • 1) Funded Trading Plus.
Apr 4, 2024

How many times can you fail FTMo? ›

You will be removed from the Premium Programme if one of the following situations occurs: You fail the FTMO Account which is part of the Premium Programme. You fail 3 accounts regardless of the of the stage (FTMO Challenge, Verification, FTMO Account)

How many prop firm traders are successful? ›

At its core, the prop firm challenge can be a way for prop firms to make money from failed challenges. This is because some sources have the failure rate of prop trading challenges at 90%. So for every 10 traders that buy a challenge, 9 will fail. That can be a lot of money for a prop firm.

How to pass prop firm challenge fast? ›

Tips for Passing a Prop Firm Trading Challenge
  1. Understand the Rules of Engagement: ...
  2. Master Your Trading Strategy: ...
  3. Risk Management is Non-Negotiable: ...
  4. Leverage Your Analytical Skills: ...
  5. Stay Disciplined and Patient: ...
  6. Continuous Learning is the Key: ...
  7. Embrace Feedback and Adapt: ...
  8. Simulate Real Trading Conditions:
Feb 5, 2024

How to pass 10k prop firm challenge? ›

To pass this trading account challenge and secure the position of a prop-funded trader, it is crucial to have an in-depth understanding of the financial markets and the potential to make profitable trades while managing risks effectively.

How to pass every prop firm challenge? ›

Below are three steps to take, to pass the prop firm challenge and always be at the top of your game:
  1. TAKE 100% RESPONSIBILITY: ...
  2. PACE YOURSELF, START SMALL AND ALWAYS RISK LESS THAN 1% PER TRADE (especially for Day Traders and Scalpers): ...
  3. WATCH YOUR EMOTIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING NEWS EVENTS:
Nov 23, 2023

How much does a prop firm pay you? ›

Base salary: Most prop trading firms offer their traders a base salary, which is usually paid on a monthly or annual basis. This salary can range from $50,000 to $100,000 for junior traders and can go up to $500,000 or more for senior traders.

Is working with a prop firm worth it? ›

Is working with a prop firm worth it? There are many unique advantages that make working with a prop firm worth it. These include access to unique software and information, trading with the firm's capital, and cashing in a large portion of your winnings.

How do prop firm payouts work? ›

Profit split

Many will take 50% of the profits, but some have been known to take as much as 70% or more. That said, the best prop trading firms may start allowing traders to keep 80% or even 90% of the profits, but these programs might be slightly pricier upfront.

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