Core Concepts
Futures prop firms give traders access to firm capital. The industry is crowded. Some firms fund traders. Others collect fees. This guide covers how to pick the right one.
The model has grown massively because it solves the biggest problem in futures trading: most skilled traders do not have $50,000 to $300,000 in personal capital. Futures prop firms bridge that gap by putting up the capital in exchange for a share of the profits.
A futures prop firm funds traders to trade futures markets. The firm provides the capital. The trader provides the skill. On Pro and S2F accounts at DayTraders.com, the trader keeps 100% of profits. On Live funded accounts, the split is 80/20.
Unlike traditional Wall Street firms that hire employees, modern futures prop firms operate remotely. Anyone with an internet connection can participate. No interview, no resume, no degree. The only qualification is passing the evaluation.
At DayTraders.com, the focus is exclusively on futures. Every rule, every account type, and every risk parameter is designed specifically for futures contract behavior.
Choose account size. Pay one-time evaluation fee. No subscriptions.
Trade under live market conditions. Hit profit target within drawdown rules. 2 qualifying days min.
Firm capital. Target removed. Risk rules remain. Keep 100% (Pro/S2F) or 80% (Live).
At DayTraders.com, evaluations require only 2 qualifying days with no time limit. Rules are published in full before purchase and do not change after you start.
Dynamic floor that moves up with equity. Never comes back down. 25K ($249) to 300K ($879). Contracts: 6 to 40. Best for active day traders.
End-of-day trailing. Drawdown only updates after the close, with daily loss limits as the intraday cushion. 25K ($309) to 300K ($1,599). Contracts: 6 to 40. Better for swing setups and overnight holds.
Fixed floor that never moves. 25K ($150) to 150K ($400). More room for pullbacks after building a cushion. Promotional pricing available.
Skip the evaluation. Funded from day one. EOD drawdown evaluated at session close. $370 to $825.
Evaluation leads to live funded accounts with real capital. Daily payouts. 80/20 split. $329 to $599.
Maximum decline from peak (trailing) or starting balance (static). $1,500 on 25K to $7,000 on 300K. Trail stops at original account balance.
Cap on single-session losses. Enforced automatically. Prevents one bad day from ending the account.
50% during evaluation, 30% during funded. No single day can dominate your total profits.
2 qualifying days on standard evaluations. 8 to 10 on S2F and S2L programs.
$1,500 on 25K Trailing to $15,000 on 300K Trailing. Removed once you are funded.
Promotional pricing is available periodically. Visit the pricing page for current rates.
All CME Group products accessible through Rithmic are available at DayTraders.com. No restrictions on specific futures products.
Market selection matters. The best futures markets guide breaks down which markets work best for different trading styles.
The cost vs. risk analysis shows that for most traders, the prop firm model produces better risk-adjusted returns.
Enough buying power and contract capacity. Manageable entry cost. Best balance of risk and opportunity.
S2F: immediate funded access. S2L: live market execution with daily payouts. For traders who know they can perform.
