Before paying for a prop evaluation, create a one-page record of the exact programme you intend to buy. This checklist turns a broad provider comparison into a purchase decision you can verify.

For the mechanics of evaluation stages, use how prop evaluations work. This article focuses on the checks at checkout and before the first trade.

1. Identify the Product and Counterparty

Record provider legal name, programme, market, account size, stage and platform. Save the terms that apply to your purchase date. A legacy account and a new account at the same company can differ.

Check your residence and other eligibility conditions before paying. A working checkout is not proof that every applicant qualifies for later account activation or rewards.

2. Write the Entire Cost Schedule

Record the entry charge, billing cadence, renewal date, reset terms, activation and separate platform/data costs. Identify cancellation and refund conditions.

Do not count a conditional future refund as money already recovered. FTMO's CFD comparison demonstrates that refund treatment can differ between products at one provider.

3. Convert the Risk Rules Into Account Values

Write the starting balance, loss floor, update mechanism and current room above the floor. Confirm whether open P&L and costs enter the daily or overall calculation, and note the reset timezone.

For a hypothetical starting balance of $50,000 and fixed floor of $48,000, a planned $250 loss uses one eighth of the initial $2,000 allowance. Recalculate after each change in balance or floor rather than relying on the headline account size.

4. Separate Targets From Hard Breaches

List the profit target, minimum activity and consistency conditions. Next to each one, record whether failing to meet it means continuing the evaluation, being temporarily ineligible for a payout or closing the account.

A counter above a consistency threshold is not universally the same as a drawdown breach. Ask for clarification where a policy does not explain the consequence.

5. Inspect Trading Permissions

Check instruments, contract limits, session close, news windows, overnight holding, automation, copying and third-party account management. Include pending orders and exits in the check.

A platform can technically submit an order that the agreement forbids. Test order-entry and recovery procedures in a permitted practice environment before using the paid account.

6. Read the Next Stage Now

Identify whether the account after passing is simulated or live. Topstep's programme overview shows why those stages should not be conflated.

Record any new agreement, fee, position limit and payout conditions. Calculate the effect of an eligible withdrawal on the remaining loss buffer. Do not assume every evaluation rule carries over unchanged.

7. Define a Stop-Purchasing Decision

Set a total budget that includes failed attempts and ongoing services. Decide what evidence would justify another purchase and what would make you pause.

A paid evaluation is not automatically a training course. If the purpose is learning the platform or understanding a rule, a suitable practice environment may answer that question first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I save at checkout?

The exact product quote, governing agreement, billing terms and programme rules, together with the purchase confirmation.

Is a low entry fee enough to choose a provider?

No. Later costs, loss mechanics, permissions and reward conditions can change the decision.

Does this checklist guarantee a payout?

No. It makes the purchase and operating conditions clearer; it does not predict trading results or guarantee provider performance.

Risk Disclaimer: Trading involves substantial risk of loss. Past performance is not indicative of future results. See our full risk disclaimer.