"How much cash can I really make from doing this?" is the first thing that people think about when they hear about prop businesses, especially in the futures sector. And really, you should find out the answer to that question. You want to know if the juice is really worth the squeeze, after all, and you're not entering the hectic world of futures trading only for fun.
The problem is that there isn't a single easy fix. Your skill level, the business's pay structure, the size of your account, and how well you fare when everything goes wrong are some of the variables that affect how much money you may make trading futures with a prop firm. Let's discuss.
What's a Prop Firm's Deal?
With the exception of evaluation or membership fees, prop companies, also known as proprietary trading businesses, effectively provide traders access to company funds so they may trade the markets without jeopardizing their own. They give you the keys to the pricey sports vehicle, but you have to prove to them that you can drive it out without colliding with the guardrail.
You usually have to pass a test period or challenge in futures prop businesses. Before they let you trade real money, you will have to prove that you can follow the guidelines, manage risk, and achieve profit goals. Any earnings you make after receiving funding are split between the company and you.
The Factors That Determine Your Profits
The Account Size
Not every futures trading prop firm account is the same size. Some firms may seed you with $25,000, while others begin at $50,000, $100,000, or higher.
- Having a bigger account implies:
- You can trade larger position sizes.
- You have a larger cushion in drawdowns.
- You can grow more quickly if you're steady.
For instance, a person who's trading a $50k account with 1–2 contracts may only be making a few hundred to a couple of thousand per week. On a $250k account, the same trader can make five figures a month—if they have the skills and the discipline.
The Payout Split
The majority of futures prop companies provide some form of 80/20 or 90/10 allocation, with the trader retaining the larger share. Some may even promote 100% returns for the initial months as a gimmick.
Let's assume you earn $10,000 in a month and your company pays an 80/20 split. You're taking home $8,000. Not bad at all for profiting off of someone else's money, huh? But remember—consistency is far more important than some single huge month. Companies want consistent traders because it demonstrates that you're not playing some kind of video game gamble.
Your Strategy and Style
Some traders scalp a few ticks at a time, amassing small but regular gains. Others swing for larger moves, making fewer trades but hoping for fat gains. Either approach will work, but your earnings will look drastically different based on your method.
For example, a scalper trading E-mini S&P 500 Futures (ES) could clear $300–$500 per day with discipline. In contrast, a swing trader who rides a big move on crude oil futures (CL) might bank $2,000+ on a single trade. But here's the other side of the coin—if you swing and miss, you might also hit your daily loss stop just as quickly.
Risk Management
Prop firms that deal in futures impose strict restrictions: daily loss restrictions, trailing drawdowns, maximum position sizes—you name them. If you fail to honor those restrictions, you'll get shut off quicker than you can say "margin call.
The money-makers among traders aren't the ones racing every day to make huge profits. They're the ones who defend their losses. You can't spend $900 on one trade if your daily loss limit is $1,000. The long-lasting traders know how to wear down the market, allow the winners to run whenever they can, and limit losses.
Scaling Plans
Most companies have scaling programs. That is, if you show you can handle a small account well, they'll scale you up to bigger accounts later on.
Here's an easy example:
- You begin with $50k and a limit of 2 contracts.
- With steady profits, you're scaled to $100k and 4 contracts.
- Just keep doing that, and you might be running a $250k account with 10+ contracts.
At that point, the income potential really opens up. Trading 10 contracts and catching a 10-point move on ES? That’s $5,000 in one shot. Do that a few times a month, and you’re looking at serious money.
What Do Traders Actually Make?
Let's be realistic. The majority of funded futures traders aren't earning $50,000 a month. Actually, most of them don't even get past the evaluation point. But the ones who remain and treat this as an actual business can earn anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars a month.
Here's a rough estimate of how much traders can earn:
- Beginner/learning curve stage: Perhaps $500–$2,000 per month. Much of this phase is simply remaining capitalized and showing consistency.
- Intermediate/steady trader: $3,000–$8,000 per month. These are the traders who risk-manage well and stick to their plan without blowing up.
- Advanced/seasoned trader: $10,000+ per month. These are the individuals who've been trading for years, understand their markets intimately, and can trade positions with ease.
Of course, these numbers aren’t guaranteed. Trading is variable. One month you might crush it, the next you could barely scrape by. That’s just the nature of the beast.
The Costs You Can’t Ignore
Before you get dollar signs in your eyes, remember—trading with a prop firm isn’t 100% free.
- Evaluation or Challenge Fees: You may pay anything from $100 to $500+ to have a go at getting funded, depending on the size of your account.
- Monthly Fees: Some companies charge a maintenance fee to have your account remain active.
- Data Fees: Futures exchanges won't provide live market data for free. You should expect $50–$100 per month, depending on what markets you're trading.
These fees take away from your profits, so you'll have to include them.
The Mindset That Actually Pays You
If you're only concerned with "How much can I make?" then you're already thinking like a gambler. A better question is, "How can I create consistency so I can stay funded and grow over time?"
Here are a few ways that experienced traders think differently:
- Patience: They don't enter trades just because they're bored.
- Discipline: They remain true to their rules even when they want to double down.
- Resilience: They take losses without degenerating into revenge trading.
Focus on process, not outcome: They understand that good trades don't necessarily result in immediate profits, but eventually the edge accumulates.
The traders who view prop trading as a marathon rather than a sprint are the ones that ultimately end up with those giant monthly checks.
So, How Much Can You Make?
The short answer: it depends on your skills, discipline, and ability to scale.
If you're just starting out and still getting things figured out, anticipate making small profits while establishing consistency.
If you're disciplined and experienced, it's quite possible to make $3k–$10k a month trading with a good account.
If you're one of the cream of the crop of traders—i.e., you've put in the time, developed a consistent edge, and are able to scale with size—prop trading futures can become a six-figure annual income.
But don't forget that there's no free lunch here. Futures trading is hectic, wild, and merciless. The same leverage that allows you to make $2,000 in the afternoon can destroy you just as fast if you're sloppy.