A funded trading account lets you trade with a firm’s capital instead of your own, and keep a share of the gains. The firms that offer them are usually called prop firms. The idea is simple. The details are where traders win or lose.
- You pay a fee to take an assessment: a test of whether you can trade to a set of rules.
- Pass it and you get a funded account. You keep a share of the gains, typically 75% to 90%.
- Most funded accounts today, including ours, are simulated. You are paid a share of simulated gains under published rules.
- The rules decide everything. Read them before you pay.
How it works, step by step
| Stage | What happens | What you pay or earn |
|---|---|---|
| Choose a plan | Pick a market, account size and add-ons, with every rule shown | A one-time fee (some futures plans are monthly) |
| Assessment | Trade to the rules and hit the target without breaching | Nothing withdrawable yet |
| Funded account | KYC and trader agreement, then a funded account under the same published rules | Your share of the gains, paid on a cycle |
| Scale | Keep trading within the rules and take payouts | Up to 90% of gains with add-ons |
What you are actually paying for
The fee buys you an assessment, not capital. Think of it as the cost of the test. If you fail, you have paid for the attempt. If you pass, you move to a funded account without paying for the capital itself.
What “simulated” means
Most prop firms run funded accounts in a simulated environment: your trades are priced against real market data, but they do not go to a live exchange in your name. Your payout is a share of the gains that account makes, paid under the firm’s published payout rules. A good firm tells you this clearly, up front. We do: TradePath assessments and funded accounts are simulated.
The rules that matter most
- Profit target: how much you need to make to pass.
- Daily loss limit: how much you can lose in a day. How it is calculated.
- Maximum drawdown: the floor for the whole account, and whether it moves. Static vs trailing.
- Time limit and inactivity: what no time limit really means.
- Payout conditions: how payouts work.
Evaluation or instant funding?
Some firms, including us, also offer instant funding: no assessment, a funded account from day one, but tighter rules. Instant funding vs evaluation compares the two.
Who funded accounts suit
They suit traders who already have a repeatable approach and want more capital behind it than they would risk personally. They are not a shortcut to learning to trade. If you are still working out a method, practise first, then buy an assessment when your results are consistent.
How TradePath works
We offer funded accounts across FX & CFDs, futures, equities and prediction markets, with every rule on one page before you pay. Up to 90% of gains with add-ons, and payouts as often as every 7 days on prediction markets. See how it works.
Common questions
Is a funded trading account real money?
At most prop firms, including TradePath, the account is simulated. Funded traders receive real payouts: a share of the simulated gains under the published payout rules.
Do I lose my own money if I lose trades in a funded account?
No. Your cost is the assessment fee. Losses in the account count against its drawdown rules, not against your own money.
How much can I earn from a funded account?
Your share of the gains the account makes, typically 75% to 90% depending on the product and add-ons, paid on the payout cycle.
Trading involves substantial risk. TradePath evaluations and funded accounts are simulated. This guide is general education, not financial advice. Rules can change; the program rules for the product you buy are what apply.