Funded Trading: What Is a Prop Firm?

A prop (proprietary trading) firm gives skilled traders a funded account, you trade the firm's capital and keep a large share of the profits, typically 80%+.

How it works

1. You pay for an evaluation (a "challenge"), a one-time fee for a simulated account with profit targets and loss limits.
2. You prove consistency, hit the target without breaking the risk rules.
3. You get funded, trade the firm's capital (often $10k–$200k) and split the profits.

Who this is for, and who it isn't

It IS for you if: you've been consistently profitable on your own account for months, you follow your risk rules without exceptions, and your problem is capital, not skill.

It is NOT for you if: you're new to trading. Most challenge fees are lost by traders who weren't ready, the firms profit from that. If you're at the start, take the free course, practise on the demo, and come back to this page in a few months. It'll still be here.

The firm we use: Blue Guardian

We're partnered with Blue Guardian, evaluations from $10k to $200k accounts, up to 85% profit split, and clear rules. As with everything on this site: it's an affiliate partnership (disclosed below), and it doesn't change the advice above, don't buy a challenge you're not ready for.

Prop firm vs your own account

• Own account: your money, all profits yours, no rules but your own. Start small, learn cheap.
• Funded account: bigger capital without risking savings, but strict rules (daily loss limits, drawdown caps) and a fee per attempt.

The skills are identical, risk management wins in both. That's why the path is: course → demo → small real account → then, if consistent, a funded challenge.

Affiliate disclosure: if you sign up through the link above, Blue Guardian pays us a commission at no extra cost to you.