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Prop Firm Profit Splits Explained 2026 (90/10, 80/20, Scaling)

JoinProp Content Team

June 27, 2026

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A prop firm profit split is the percentage of trading profits a funded trader keeps versus the percentage retained by the proprietary trading firm. An 80/20 split assigns 80% of eligible net profit to the trader before applicable payout fees or taxes. Eligibility, buffers and payout caps can limit how much is available to request.

Compare both the starting share and the conditions required to receive it or increase it.

Programs may offer a fixed share, a share tied to the purchased account tier, or increases after scaling milestones. A higher eventual percentage is useful only if you meet the conditions; it does not establish a better expected outcome.

This guide breaks down selected profit split structures in 2026, compares the top firms side by side, and explains exactly what conditions trigger a split increase.

What this article covers:

• How 80/20, 90/10, and 100% splits actually work in practice

• The difference between flat splits and performance-based scaling

• A side-by-side comparison table: FTMO, SabioTrade, The5ers, and Topstep

• What to look for beyond the headline percentage

• How to use discount codes to reduce evaluation costs before you even reach the payout stage

How Prop Firm Profit Splits Work

A split applies to eligible net profit, not trading volume. For example, an eligible $5,000 profit at an 80% share produces $4,000 before payout fees and taxes, assuming no cap limits the request. Many accounts use simulated capital; the displayed balance is not a cash deposit available to withdraw. Breaching the loss limit can end the account.

Key concept: Profit splits apply to realized profits only. Unrealized gains sitting in open trades cannot be withdrawn, regardless of the split percentage.

What Triggers a Payout

Before any split calculation matters, you need to meet the firm's payout conditions. These vary significantly and are often where traders get caught off guard:

• Minimum trading days: Count program-specific qualifying days separately from calendar waiting periods

• Consistency rules: A program may limit the share earned on the best day; the percentage and stage vary

• Minimum withdrawal amounts: Check the current minimum and whether it is measured before or after the split

• Payout frequency: Weekly, bi-weekly, or on-demand depending on the firm

Flat Split vs. Scaling Split

There are two fundamentally different profit split models in the industry:

Flat split: You receive the same percentage from your first payout to your last. Simple, predictable, and common among newer firms trying to attract traders with a high headline number.

Scaling split: Your percentage may increase at defined milestones. FTMO CFD 2-Step starts at 80% and can reach 90%; CFD 1-Step already starts at 90%. The5ers High Stakes starts at 80% and reaches higher shares at published scaling tiers.

No split model is always better. Compare expected eligible payouts, costs, loss limits and realistic access to scaling.

Prop Firm Profit Split Comparison: FTMO, SabioTrade, The5ers, and Topstep (2026)

These examples illustrate different structures. Account labels below are not equivalent measures of withdrawable capital; initial allocations and scaling ceilings are identified separately.

FTMO: Different Starting Shares by CFD Program

FTMO CFD 2-Step starts at 80% and can qualify for 90%; CFD 1-Step starts at 90%. Scaling requires at least four months under the same order, 10% net simulated profit in that period, two processed rewards and a positive balance at scale-up. Qualifying balances increase 25%.

Evaluation fee: Approximately $155 (10K account) to $1,080 (200K account). These retained price examples are not a new quote. The first-reward fee refund applies to CFD 2-Step, not CFD 1-Step.

Save on your FTMO evaluation with an exclusive discount code. Find the latest FTMO discount code on JoinProp.

SabioTrade: Account-Size-Based Splits

SabioTrade takes a different approach: your profit split is determined by the account tier you purchase, not by performance milestones. Accounts at $20K and $50K receive an 80% split. Accounts at $100K and above receive a 90% split from the very first payout.

SabioTrade states weekly payouts and 24-hour processing. Its FAQ lists recommended method minimums of $15 by bank, $1 by crypto and €2 by Amaiz, with all positions closed and seven days since the last successful request. After the first payout, equity must remain above the initial balance.

The trade-off: No path to 100%, and the proprietary Traderoom platform means no MT4 or cTrader access.

The5ers: Program and Stage Matter

The5ers advertises scaling up to $4,000,000 for Hyper Growth and Bootcamp. That ceiling requires successive milestones and is not an initial allocation. Splits differ by program and stage:

Hyper Growth’s 50% evaluation share should not be confused with its 75% starting funded share. Bootcamp’s funded share starts at 50%. A larger eventual allocation does not guarantee higher total payouts.

High Stakes starts at 80% and publishes scaling tiers up to 100%; compare its other conditions before choosing. The Bootcamp entry fee starts at just $95 for a $100K evaluation.

Topstep: Futures-Only, Subscription Model

Topstep operates exclusively in the futures market (ES, NQ, CL, and other CME products) and uses a monthly subscription model rather than a one-time challenge fee. As of January 12, 2026, new traders receive a flat 90/10 split from their first payout. Traders who joined the new Topstep dashboard before that date retain 100% of their first $10K in lifetime profits, then 90%; Legacy-dashboard payouts do not count toward that allowance.

Topstep 2026 payout structure (new traders):

The minimum request is $125. Express requests are limited to 50% of account balance and size-specific caps: Standard $2,000/$3,000/$5,000 and Consistency $3,000/$4,000/$6,000 for 50K/100K/150K labels. Live accounts have separate eligibility and withdrawal rules.

• Flat 90% split from the first payout

• Two payout paths: Standard (5 winning days, $150 min profit each) or Consistency (3 trading days, 40% consistency rule)

• Largest Trading Combine label: $150,000; Express balances and Live allocation rules differ

• Monthly subscription: $49–$149/month (no one-time challenge fee)

Important note for 2026 researchers: Many articles still reference Topstep's old 100% first-$10K structure. That offer was discontinued for new signups after January 12, 2026. Verify current terms directly before signing up.

Topstep’s Combine maximum-loss floor trails end-of-day balance and locks at the starting balance; unrealized losses can breach it intraday. Express and Live accounts have stage-specific rules. FTMO CFD 2-Step has a static maximum-loss floor, while 1-Step uses an end-of-day trailing maximum-loss rule.

How Scaling Plans Work: What Actually Changes Your Split

A scaling plan is a contractual agreement between you and the prop firm that defines the exact conditions under which your profit split (and often your account balance) will increase. Not all scaling plans are equal, and the specific triggers matter enormously.

Performance-Based Scaling (FTMO Model)

FTMO’s scaling plan has time and performance requirements. The split increase to 90% applies to CFD 2-Step; 1-Step already has 90%:

1. At least four months under the same order, or since the previous scale-up

2. You must have achieved at least 10% net profit over that period

3. At least two rewards must have been processed during that four-month period, and the account must have a positive balance at scale-up

When you hit these thresholds, your account balance increases by 25% and the CFD 2-Step reward share becomes 90%. The maximum funded account size under the standard FTMO Scaling Plan is $2,000,000.

What this means in practice: At 25% growth per qualifying four-month cycle, a $100K starting allocation is about $195K after three increases or $244K after four. These are arithmetic examples, not forecasts or guaranteed scale-ups.

Milestone-Based Scaling (The5ers Model)

The5ers uses a different trigger: capital milestones rather than time. On the High Stakes program, the split increases at specific account balance thresholds:

The table shows issued scaling-account tiers, not a threshold reached merely by leaving profit in an account. High Stakes requires its scaling target and qualifying-day conditions.

Account-Tier Scaling (SabioTrade Model)

SabioTrade’s listed initial tiers offer 80% on $20K/$50K and 90% on $100K/$200K/$650K. This describes the starting share; it does not establish every later scaling or upgrade option.

Check upgrade terms before buying. Do not assume that a larger advertised allocation automatically raises an existing account’s split.

What "100% Profit Split" Actually Means

A handful of firms advertise 100% profit splits, which sounds like the firm takes nothing. In practice, these firms earn revenue through evaluation fees, monthly subscriptions, add-on purchases, or by operating in simulated environments where trader performance does not directly correspond to live market risk. The 100% split is a marketing construct that works within a broader business model, not a charitable arrangement.

Read the definition: A 100% share can still have eligibility conditions, payout caps and payment charges. It does not guarantee a payout or establish how the provider finances rewards.

What to Look for Beyond the Headline Percentage

Traders who choose a firm based solely on the advertised split percentage frequently end up disappointed. The split is one variable in a larger equation. Here are the factors that determine how much you actually take home.

Drawdown Type: Fixed vs. Trailing

The drawdown rule determines how much you can lose before your account is closed. Two firms can both offer 90% splits but have drastically different risk environments:

FTMO CFD 2-Step uses a static 10% maximum-loss limit; 1-Step uses 10% end-of-day trailing. Topstep’s Combine floor locks at starting balance, not after a universal $10,000 profit. Hyper Growth’s 6% stop-out terminates the account; its separate 3% daily pause suspends trading for the day.

Practical impact: For a $100K Topstep Combine with a $3,000 maximum-loss distance, the floor starts at $97K and can rise to $100K. It then stays at that lock level rather than continuing to $112K when the balance reaches $115K.

Payout Frequency and Processing Time

How often you can access your profits affects compounding, cash flow, and your ability to reinvest. The gap between firms is significant:

• SabioTrade: Weekly; stated 24-hour processing, with method-specific recommended minimums

• Topstep: Express Standard requires five $150+ winning days; Consistency requires three days and 40% consistency, plus the other policy conditions

• FTMO: Request from day 14 after the first trade, with positions and pending orders closed; review and sending have separate business-day processing stages

• The5ers: Bi-weekly once funded; first-cycle and scaling-reset rules apply

For traders who rely on consistent income from funded accounts, payout frequency is a practical constraint, not just a preference.

High Stakes also has payout caps and minimum P&L by size: the current policy lists $3,000/$300 for 50K and $4,000/$500 for 100K. Its general minimum withdrawal is $150 after the split. Confirm the applicable account terms rather than assuming the entire profit is withdrawable.

Evaluation Fee Refunds

Refund conditions differ by program. Passing alone does not guarantee reimbursement, and a refund does not reimburse all trading or retry costs:

• FTMO: CFD 2-Step fee refund with the first reward; CFD 1-Step fee is not refunded

• SabioTrade: Confirm the selected tariff’s current refund terms; a customer testimonial is not a universal refund policy

• The5ers High Stakes: 70% refund on qualifying externally paid fees at the eligible first payout; 10% and 20% milestone Hub Credits are not cash withdrawals

• Topstep: Monthly subscription model; no one-time fee to refund

Before paying any evaluation fee, check whether it is refundable. For the listed $479 SabioTrade evaluation example, do not assume zero net cost without an applicable written refund entitlement.

Looking to reduce your evaluation costs before you even start? JoinProp tracks exclusive discount codes across 200+ prop firms. Browse all current prop trading discount codes here.

Which Profit Split Model Is Right for You?

There is no universally superior split structure. The right model depends on your trading style, timeline, and financial goals.

Decision Framework

The Calculation That Actually Matters

Traders often debate 80% vs. 90% splits without doing the math. For an illustrative $3,000 eligible monthly payout base on a $100,000 account, before fees and taxes and assuming no cap:

• At 80%: you keep $2,400/month

• At 90%: you keep $2,700/month

• Difference: $300/month

That $300 gap is real, but it is smaller than the difference between a firm that pays reliably and one that delays or disputes payouts. Eligibility, account survival and caps can outweigh the percentage difference; their impact depends on actual results.

The most important question is not "which firm has the highest split?" It is "which firm's rules give me the best chance of staying funded long enough to benefit from scaling?"

If you are still in the evaluation phase, reducing your challenge fee through a discount code is the single highest-ROI action available before you even start trading. JoinProp maintains a live database of verified discount codes across more than 200 prop firms.

For a broader comparison of the top-rated firms across all criteria, see the Best Prop Trading Firms 2025: Top 10 Compared guide on JoinProp. If you are preparing for your first challenge, the 10 Tips: How to Pass Prop Trading Challenges article covers the risk management rules that keep most traders from reaching the payout stage at all.

Understanding profit splits is the commercial foundation of prop trading. The firms that succeed long-term are not the ones that chose the highest advertised percentage. They are the ones that understood the full structure, passed their evaluation efficiently, and stayed funded long enough for scaling to compound in their favor.

Program rules checked October 5, 2026: FTMO scaling, FTMO rewards, FTMO CFD program differences, SabioTrade plans and FAQ, The5ers High Stakes, High Stakes payouts, Hyper Growth stages, Bootcamp scaling, Topstep payouts and Topstep loss limit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an 80/20 split mean?

You receive 80% of eligible net profit before applicable payout charges and taxes, subject to the program’s caps and conditions.

How does FTMO’s scaling work?

FTMO scaling requires four months, 10% net simulated profit, two processed rewards and a positive balance at scale-up. The allocation increases 25%; the share increase to 90% applies to CFD 2-Step.

What is the difference between fixed and trailing drawdowns?

A static floor stays fixed. A trailing floor follows the specified balance or equity reference and may stop at a lock level; a fixed-distance trail does not automatically shrink the buffer at each new high.

Can you withdraw unrealized profits?

No – profit splits apply to realized profits only; unrealized gains in open trades can’t be withdrawn regardless of the split.

Which firm offers the fastest payouts?

No fastest-provider ranking is established here. Compare eligibility, request frequency, review time and payment-method settlement separately.