How to Start with FTMO — Complete Step-by-Step Guide

FTMO is the closest thing the prop firm industry has to a default choice. The Prague-based operator has been running since 2014, and the evaluation flow is documented well enough that thousands of traders complete it every month. That said, the rules are strict — most people fail the first attempt because they break the daily loss limit, not the profit target. This guide walks through the registration to first-payout path in order, with the numbers you actually need.

Step 1 — Register

Sign up at ftmo.com using your legal name. The name on your account must match the name on your ID later, so do not use a nickname.

Step 2 — Pick a plan

Account size determines the fee and the dollar value of every percentage point of profit. Beginners typically start at $10K or $25K, where a single bad day costs less than a meal out.

• $10K → €89
• $25K → €179
• $50K → €298
• $100K → €539
• $200K → €1,080

Step 3 — Take Phase 1

The target is +10% with a 10% max drawdown, a 5% daily loss limit, and a minimum of 4 trading days. Time is unlimited. In practice, most passing traders finish Phase 1 in two to four weeks while risking 0.5–1% per trade.

Step 4 — Verification (Phase 2)

Phase 2 halves the profit target to +5% but keeps the same drawdown and daily-loss rules and the 4-day minimum. The reduced target is forgiving on paper, yet many traders fail here because they overtrade after the Phase 1 win.

Step 5 — Funded account

Once you pass, you complete KYC and receive a simulated live account. The default profit split is 80% (rising to 90% after consistent payouts) and you can request a payout on demand or on a 14-day cycle.

Why FTMO

• Eleven years of operating history
• The industry’s largest cumulative payout record
• Strict but transparent rules
• Strong reputation across independent reviews

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