Most funded traders start with a $25K–$100K evaluation account. The path to real income isn't just about consistent profits — it's about scaling your account size efficiently, either through your firm's scaling plan or by running multiple accounts simultaneously.
How Prop Firm Scaling Plans Work
Most firms offer a scaling plan that grows your funded account after you demonstrate consistent profitability. The typical structure:
- You achieve a set profit target (e.g. 10% of account) within a defined number of months
- You haven't violated any rules during that period
- Your account size increases by a fixed percentage (often 25–50%)
- Your drawdown limit and daily loss limit scale proportionally
Typical Scaling Path — $100K Account
Running Multiple Accounts
Many funded traders accelerate their income not by scaling a single account, but by running several accounts in parallel — often across multiple firms. Common strategies:
- Same strategy, multiple accounts: Run the same setups on 3–4 accounts simultaneously. At $100K each with 80% split, a $5,000 profit week across all accounts = $16,000 take-home.
- Tiered sizing: Start new challenges at lower account sizes while managing a larger funded account. If the challenge fails, the cost is minimal relative to income from the main account.
- Diversified firms: Spreading across 2–3 firms reduces the risk of one firm changing its payout terms or going under.
Risk Warning
Some firms limit how many accounts you can hold simultaneously, or require you to disclose other accounts. Check your firm's terms. Running correlated positions across many accounts can also multiply drawdown risk — a bad day affects all accounts at once.
Income Projections
Here's what realistic income looks like at different account sizes, assuming 5% monthly return and 80% profit split:
| Account Size | 5% Monthly Return | 80% Split Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,500 | $2,000/month |
| $100,000 | $5,000 | $4,000/month |
| $200,000 | $10,000 | $8,000/month |
| $400,000 (4× $100K) | $20,000 | $16,000/month |
Use the Compounding Calculator to model your account growth over time with consistent monthly returns, and the Payout Calculator to see take-home across multiple accounts.
When to Scale — And When Not To
Scale when:
- You've been consistently profitable for 3+ months, not just one good month
- Your drawdown and daily loss limits feel comfortable, not tight
- Your risk management is mechanical, not emotional
Don't scale when:
- You had one exceptional month and feel "on a roll"
- You're close to drawdown limits and hope more size will help you recover
- You haven't reviewed and understood why you're profitable