How Much Does It Really Cost to Get Funded? A Breakdown

The real cost to get a funded account at a prop firm is typically $200 to $800 for most traders, factoring in failed evaluations, resets, and associated fees. While a single evaluation might cost $50 to $300, very few traders pass on their first attempt. The total spend depends on your skill level, the firm you choose, and how many tries you need.

The Visible Costs

These are the fees you can see upfront:

Evaluation fee: $50 to $500+ depending on account size and firm. During sales, this can drop to $30 to $75 at some firms.
Reset fees: $25 to $200 per reset, typically 30% to 60% of the original evaluation cost.
Activation fees: Some firms charge $100 to $250 to activate your funded account after passing. Not all firms have this.
Monthly data fees: Futures firms often charge $15 to $40/month for market data on funded accounts.

The Hidden Costs

These are the expenses traders rarely calculate:

Multiple attempts: If you fail 3 evaluations at $150 each, that is $450 before you even get funded.
Platform costs: Some trading platforms charge subscription fees ($50 to $100/month) unless you use a free version.
Education and tools: Courses, indicators, or signal services you purchased to prepare.
Opportunity cost: The time spent trading evaluations could have been spent trading your own small account.

Realistic Cost Scenarios

Best case: You pass on your first attempt during a sale. Total cost: $50 to $150.

Average case: You fail twice, reset once, and pass on your third evaluation. Total cost: $300 to $600.

Expensive case: You cycle through multiple firms and evaluations over several months. Total cost: $800 to $2,000+.

The average case is most common. Budget accordingly rather than assuming you will be the exception.

How to Minimize Your Total Spend

Keep your costs down with these strategies:

Practice extensively before paying. Use paper trading or demo accounts until your strategy passes a simulated evaluation at least 3 times.
Start with the cheapest accounts. A $25K or $50K evaluation costs less and teaches you the rules.
Wait for sales. Most firms run monthly promotions with 40% to 80% discounts. Check our cheap prop firms guide.
Track cumulative spending. Set a hard limit on total evaluation costs. If you hit $500 without passing, step back and reassess.
Use free resets when available. Some firms include free resets or offer reset subscriptions.

Compare all costs in our prop firm directory.

Key Takeaways

Most traders spend $200 to $800 total to get funded, not just the single evaluation fee
Factor in 2 to 3 failed attempts when budgeting for prop firm evaluations
Hidden costs include platform fees, data fees, activation fees, and opportunity cost
Practice on demo accounts before spending money on paid evaluations
Set a hard spending limit and reassess your strategy if you reach it

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get funded for free? Some firms offer free trials or promotional free evaluations. FTMO also refunds your evaluation fee with your first payout, making it effectively free if you pass and profit.

Is it cheaper to reset or buy a new evaluation? Resets are usually cheaper (30% to 60% of a new evaluation). But if a new evaluation is on sale, compare prices before deciding.

How many evaluations does the average trader need? Community data suggests 2 to 4 attempts is typical for traders who eventually pass. Some pass on the first try; others need 10+.

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