How a prop firm payout is worked out
Most funded-account programs pay you a share of the profit you generate, not all of it. The trader share is your gross profit multiplied by the profit split. A 90% split on $3,000 of profit gives you $2,700 before anything else is taken into account.
Some firms also set a payout cap, a maximum dollar amount you can withdraw in one payout or per cycle. When a cap is set, the trader share is limited to that figure. A $2,000 cap on the same $2,700 share pays $2,000.
Net result after fees
Fees you paid to get funded, such as evaluation or activation costs, reduce what you keep. Net after fees is the trader share minus those fees. The ROI on fees is that net amount divided by the fees, shown as a percentage. ROI looks very large when fees are small compared with profit, so compare it with the time and risk it took to earn.
Break-even profit
Break-even profit is the gross profit needed for your trader share to cover your fees: fees ÷ split. With $150 in fees and a 90% split, you need about $166.67 of gross profit before you are net positive. Below that level, the payout does not recover the cost.
Cap example
Take $3,000 gross profit at a 90% split: the trader share is $2,700. With a $2,000 cap, the share becomes $2,000. Subtract $150 in fees and the net is $1,850, so ROI on fees is 1,850 ÷ 150 = 1,233.3%. Under the same split, break-even gross profit is 150 ÷ 0.90 = $166.67.
Common mistakes
- Applying the steps in the wrong order. The calculator applies the split first, then the cap, then subtracts fees. Do the same when checking against a firm's published method.
- Using a split from marketing copy rather than the split in the firm's current rules.
- Reading the per-payout figure as a schedule. It divides the share evenly across the number you enter; actual payout timing and minimums differ by firm.
- Treating ROI on fees as an annual return. It is one ratio with no timeframe attached.
How to use the calculator with a real payout request
Start with the gross profit that the platform reports for the period you want to withdraw, not your account balance change including deposits. Enter the profit split the firm currently publishes for your account type. If the firm states a cap in dollars, enter it; otherwise leave the cap blank. Add every evaluation, activation, reset and data fee you paid into the fees field, since the calculator subtracts that total from the share.
The planned payouts field only divides the share across requests. It does not model a schedule. If your firm limits how often you can withdraw or sets a minimum, plan around those limits separately and treat the per-payout figure as an average.
Worked check against a cap
Suppose the gross profit is 1,500, the split is 80%, and the cap is 1,000. The share before the cap is 1,200, so the cap applies and the trader share is 1,000. With 100 in fees, net after fees is 900, and break-even gross profit is 100 ÷ 0.80 = 125. The "Cap applied?" line should read Yes in the calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How is my prop firm payout calculated?
Trader share = gross profit × split %, capped if the firm sets a cap. Net = share − fees. Check your firm's current rules for the exact method.
What is break-even profit?
Fees ÷ split. At $150 in fees and a 90% split it is about $166.67 of gross profit.
Are taxes or reset fees included?
No. Only the figures you enter are used. Add any extra costs to the fees field yourself.
Is this financial advice?
No. This is an educational arithmetic tool.