Home › Market News › The Truth About Prop Firm Payouts
The first question you get when you hear about prop trading comes pretty fast: “How easy is it to get paid?” It’s not just paranoia: it’s experience talking. A firm’s reputation is built on how it treats its traders when the money’s on the line, and in the world of prop trading, payout policies shouldn’t just be in the fine print. Let’s be honest, you wouldn’t be doing this if there wasn’t a chance you could earn some real funds, and you need to know exactly what, when, and how much you’ll see in your account.
Let’s break down what to look for when evaluating payout rules, what those rules tell you about the prop firm behind them, and how Topstep changes the game in this space.
If you have to dig through pages of details or break down legalese just to figure out when you can take a payout, that’s a red flag.
Ask yourself:
How soon can you request your first payout after getting funded?
Are there minimum profit thresholds or requirements?
Is there a cap on how much you can withdraw, or how often?
If the answers aren’t obvious within five minutes of reading, keep looking. When it comes to your money, “maybe” isn’t good enough.
How do prop firm payouts work?
Prop firm payouts let traders earn a share of the profits they generate using the firm’s capital. After passing an evaluation and meeting specific profit and risk criteria, traders can request a payout—often weekly or monthly. The firm takes a cut (usually 10–30%), and the rest goes to the trader. Top-tier firms like Topstep offer fast, transparent payouts with generous splits and minimal hassle.
At Topstep, transparency is at the front of the operation:
Once funded, you can request a payout after 5 winning days of +$150.
Payouts are processed in 1-2 business days.
All payouts follow a 90/10 profit split, with 90% going to you.
You’ll know within minutes exactly when you can request a payout, what’s required, and how much you can withdraw. The rules are available on our website and in your trader dashboard, because we operate for the trader who wants to be free of the fine print.
So you’ve put in the work. You’ve managed your risk, hit your targets, and now you’re ready to get paid. But how long will you wait? Some firms can take weeks or longer. You put in the hours to earn it, you shouldn’t have to wait weeks to get it. Just like with trading, speed matters.
Delays, on the other hand, can have you wondering, “Am I really going to get paid?”
That’s not a good look. Topstep stands out with lightning-fast processing. Approved payouts are sent within 24 to 48 hours. Yes, that fast.
Your payout should keep pace with your performance, not slow you down. Simple as that. Fast payouts mean you can focus on what you do best: trading smarter, aiming higher, and chasing that next big win.
Profit splits are the heart of the prop trading model. Good firms are upfront about how much you keep and how much they take. No one wants to earn $200, then receive half of that because the prop took the majority when you did all the work in the first place.
We believe if a firm’s payout math feels fuzzy, it probably is. The best firms know that when you win, they win, and they’re happy to show you how it works. That’s why Topstep offers one of the most competitive profit splits in the industry: you keep up to 90% of your profits, for the traders who don’t need the smoke and mirrors.
What you see is what you get, every single time. Plus, Topstep allows traders to keep up to 90% of the profits, giving you even more control over your earnings. Some platforms only allow traders to keep 70% of their funds, not to mention withdrawal fees that can eat into your hard-earned gains.
Momentum is everything in trading. The last thing you want is a payout policy that limits you to a single payout per month. It gets super challenging to keep the energy of a winner if you can only really enjoy that feeling every once in a while. Great prop firms let you cash out more than once a month, so you can grab your profits and keep that winning streak going. That flexibility lets you lock in gains and stay motivated.
With Topstep, you have the opportunity to earn a payout every 5 days, so you’re calling the shots and you always have control over how your trading journey plays out.
Some firms build in hurdles: trailing drawdowns that reset with every withdrawal, profit targets that move the goalposts, or withdrawal minimums that keep your money just out of reach. These aren’t just annoying, they’re set up to keep you trading (and risking) longer than you might want to.
Topstep’s all about the point: hit your milestones, and your payout is yours. We don’t add extra hoops. Our rules are designed to help, not hinder traders. The best firms will set rules that help traders get better. If the payout policy feels like an obstacle course, who benefits more when it’s your time on the line?
We can’t speak for others, but we built our payout policy to reflect our commitment to traders. We don’t just talk about supporting, we show up when it matters most because your wins should be celebrated, not complicated.
That’s how moments like these happen, where you can see the best of the best. We don’t have to change the system or find ways to make things look better than they are. It shows up right there in the accounts of traders everywhere. Traders win with Topstep, and we celebrate those wins every chance we get.
Payout rules aren’t just another policy; they’re the clearest window into a prop firm’s values. The best firms make it easy to get paid, with policies that are clear, fair, and built for real traders. When you’re evaluating your next prop firm, start with the payout rules. Because at the end of the day, trading is about turning skill into results, and results only matter when you actually see them in your account.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Prop firm payouts are typically taxed as self-employment or freelance income, meaning you’re responsible for reporting the earnings and paying applicable income and self-employment taxes. Since tax treatment varies by country, it’s best to keep detailed records and consult a tax professional familiar with trading income in your region.
To receive a payout, you must first pass the Trading Combine and open an Express Funded Account, following Topstep’s Payout Policy. Payouts are only available from Funded Level accounts, not from any Trading Combine accounts. Be sure to review the list of Ineligible Countries, as citizens from those regions are not eligible for payouts.
If you request a payout before your Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) reaches $0, the MLL will automatically reset to $0. To take regular payouts and maintain your account long-term, it’s recommended to first bring your MLL to $0 by reaching the required profit levels before withdrawing funds.
Traders must review Topstep’s Eligibility Requirements to confirm if they can earn funding or receive payouts. Citizens of certain countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Nigeria, and Venezuela,are not eligible to participate. If your country is on the ineligible list, you cannot trade or receive payouts with Topstep.
