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.

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How Prop Firm Payouts Work, in 3:07

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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.

Payout schedules compared

Firm and stageWhen you can requestConditions
FTMOFrom the 14th day after the first trade on the accountPositions closed; $20 minimum ($50 crypto)
FundedNext Stellar 2-StepFirst cycle 21 days, then every 14 daysPer its rules; fee refunded with first reward
Topstep Express Funded (Standard)After 5 winning days of $150+Net profit since last payout; capped per request
Topstep Live FundedPer cycle; daily after 30 winning daysNo cap on Live payouts

Payout methods and fees

Firms publish their payout methods and any fees. FTMO lists bank wire, Visa Direct or Mastercard Send (up to $20,000), Skrill (up to $3,000) and cryptocurrencies. Topstep lists Prop-to-Brokerage, Aeropay, ACH, Wise (in some countries) and wire, with $30 fees on ACH and wire. Choose a method in your own name that works in your country, and check its limits before a large payout.

What happens to the account after a payout

A payout can change the account itself, not just your bank balance. At Topstep, the maximum loss limit on an Express Funded account resets to $0 after a payout, meaning the account’s floor sits at its starting balance from then on. On other plans the balance simply falls by the amount paid. Read what your firm does, because it changes how much room you have for the next cycle.

Illustrative example: room after a payout

A trader with a $52,000 balance on a $50,000 account requests a $1,500 payout. Afterwards the balance is $50,500. If the floor is now the starting balance, they have $500 of room, not the $2,000 they had at the start, and should size the next trades accordingly.

Planning a payout rhythm

  • Request on the first eligible date of each cycle rather than letting profit build.
  • Keep payouts small enough to leave room above the floor afterwards.
  • Log each request’s dates and amounts to spot slowdowns.

Key terms

TermMeaning
Payout requestAsking the firm to pay your share of profit
Winning dayA day with net profit above a set amount, such as Topstep’s $150
Payout capThe most that can be paid per request
ReviewThe firm’s check of your trading before paying

These guides cover what decides the size and safety of your payouts.

Cite this guide

FX Recap, "How Prop Firm Payouts Work: Splits, Schedules and the First Withdrawal", updated 14 October 2026, https://fxrecap.com/prop-trading/how-prop-firm-payouts-work

Free to quote with a link. Journalists: data and comment in our press room.

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.

What happens to my prop account after a payout?

It depends on the firm. The balance falls by the payout, and at some firms the loss floor changes; Topstep says the maximum loss limit on an Express Funded account resets to $0 after a payout.

Which payout methods do prop firms use?

Commonly bank wire, card transfers, e-wallets and crypto. FTMO lists bank wire, Visa Direct or Mastercard Send, Skrill and crypto; Topstep lists Prop-to-Brokerage, Aeropay, ACH, Wise in some countries and wire.