Social media shows big payout screenshots. The quieter reality is that consistent funded traders often aim for a few percent per month, and that many months are flat or slightly negative. That can still be meaningful income, because the capital is not yours.
A realistic example
A trader with a $100K funded account on a 90% split who makes 3% in a month earns about $2,700 before any costs or taxes. At 1.5%, about $1,350. Some months there is no payout. The value comes from repeating modest results without losing the account.
Costs to include
- Challenge fees, including failed attempts.
- Time: preparation, trading and review.
- Conversion costs and local taxes on payouts.
Treat it as a business
- Track every fee and payout in a spreadsheet.
- Set a monthly budget for evaluations and stick to it.
- Scale only with proven results: a second account after several paid cycles.