TopStep Rules

TopStep is a 1-step prop trading firm that offers 3 account sizes ranging from $50,000 to $150,000. The OG futures prop firm. Monthly subscription model (not one-time fee). EOD trailing drawdown. Must flatten before market close. The firm supports NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView and gives traders access to futures markets. Expert advisors and automated trading bots are allowed, making it suitable for algorithmic traders. Copy trading is not allowed.

The evaluation uses trailing eod (floor moves up at end of day), which means your drawdown floor moves up at end of day when your closing balance exceeds the previous peak. This is more forgiving than intraday trailing because temporary spikes in profit during the day do not permanently raise the floor. On a $150,000 account, if you close the day up $3,000, the floor rises by that same amount.

The 2% daily loss limit acts as a circuit breaker. On the $150,000 account, that means you cannot lose more than $3,000 in a single day. This is calculated from your starting daily balance, which is an important distinction -- only realized losses count, giving more breathing room for open positions. Profit split starts at 90% and scales up to 90%, with payouts processed weekly.

Common mistakes traders make on TopStep: Misunderstanding the trailing drawdown is the number one account killer. Many traders assume their profits create a permanent cushion, but with trailing eod (floor moves up at end of day), your floor rises with your peak equity. Hitting the daily loss limit by overleveraging after a losing streak is extremely common. On the $50,000 account, your daily limit is only $1,000 -- two bad trades at 2.5% risk each and you are done for the day. Forgetting to close positions before market close triggers an overnight holding violation, which can end your evaluation regardless of P&L. The consistency rule (No single day > 50% of total profit) catches traders who pass on one lucky day. Spread your profits across multiple sessions. Always verify the current rules on the official rules page before starting.

Who TopStep is best for: Disciplined day traders who can manage risk within the trailing drawdown structure. The EOD calculation gives you breathing room during the session. Futures traders exclusively -- the firm does not offer forex or CFD markets. Budget-conscious traders will appreciate the low entry point of $49 for the $50,000 account.