Live Funded Account
trading rules
Live Funded Account overview
The Live Funded Account call up is designed to help traders transition successfully from simulated performance to live trading through a performance-based capital release structure.
When called up to Live:
- You begin with 20% of your eligible starting account balance available for trading
- The remaining balance becomes available as defined profit milestones are achieved
- Additional balance access is released as you achieve defined profit milestones
- Capital expansion is reviewed weekly
- Payout eligibility is separate from capital expansion
This structure allows traders to safely scale in while adjusting to live market conditions, working with the risk team, and maintaining a clear path to full account access.
Starting account balance
Your Live Funded Account includes two key values:
1. Live account size
Topstep allows traders to have one active Live Funded Account at a time. This step determines the account size of your Live Funded Account if you have multiple Express Funded Account sizes.
Your Live Funded Account size is based on the average account size of your active and eligible Express Funded Accounts.
- Only accounts with at least one payout are included
- The average is rounded up to the next tier of $50K, $100K, or $150K
- Your Live Funded Account maximum starting balance, rules, and limits are based on this capped size
2. Starting balance and unlock structure
Your actual Starting Balance is based on the combined total balance of your eligible Express Funded Accounts, up to your Live Account maximum starting balance.
Example: 2×$50K + $100K + $150K → $87.5K average → rounds to $100K Live size.
At Live activation:
- 20% of your combined total balance is available for trading
- The remaining balance unlocks in 25% increments through performance milestones
- Each unlock releases 25% of your reserve balance, until you reach your Live Account starting balance
Topstep may make discretionary exceptions for select traders based on performance and risk evaluation.
Balance expansion through performance
Additional rules:
- Balance expansion does not change payout eligibility rules
- Profits must be net since the last unlocked available balance event
- Expansion is reviewed no more than once per calendar week
- Your net profits will be measured after market close on Friday of each week
- Approved unlocked available balances are typically applied by the following Tuesday
Traders may continue unlocking balance access until 100% of the account Starting Balance has been made available for trading.
Dynamic live risk expansion
Daily Loss Limit
Your Daily Loss Limit continues to scale up or down with your available balance.
If the Daily Loss Limit is reached:
- Positions are flattened
- Orders are canceled
- Trading is paused until the next trading session
This pause is not a rule violation.
*If the account is auto liquidated with a balance less than $1,000 the account will be closed and the remaining account balance will be paid out to the trader.
Performance bonuses
The Topstep Live Performance Bonus is an incentive program that allows consistently profitable Live Funded traders to earn over $250,000 in cash bonuses. Traders work their way up the bonus ladder one level at a time, unlocking a new cash bonus each calendar month they hit a qualifying profit target. This bonus is designed to reward consistency, discipline, and long-term growth.
Performance bonuses are independent of payouts and balance expansion. You can find all the details here.
Stay live. Know the rules.
Trader may not hit or exceed the Maximum Loss Limit (as described here). Currently, your Maximum Loss Limit is $1,000. For the remainder of your Live Funded Account, you will need to make sure your account balance stays above $1,000 (positive).
Products may be traded during normal electronic trading hours unless otherwise indicated. Abbreviated holiday hours can be found on Topstep’s website. All positions MUST be closed prior to 3:10 PM CT or prior to the market close of that product, whichever is sooner.
Additional terms and info
The Daily Loss Limit is a protective threshold designed to help you manage risk. If your Net P&L reaches or exceeds this limit during the trading day (defined as 5:00 PM CT to 3:10 PM CT), your account will enter a soft breach.
Here’s what that means:
- Your open positions will be closed (flattened).
- Any pending orders will be canceled.
- You’ll be locked out from placing new trades until the next trading day begins (5:00 PM CT).
This lockout is not a rule violation. It’s a pause meant to protect your account and give you time to regroup.
To help you stay within your limits, we’ll also automatically flatten all positions about ten seconds before the trading session ends (3:10 PM CT), as determined by Topstep.
Holiday hours can impact your trading schedule and data fees. Here’s what you need to know:
- Holiday Flattening Requirements: You must close all trades during the holiday hours outlined in our Holiday Schedule. These requirements may differ from standard trading days.
- Data Fees and Holidays: Data fees are not prorated for months with holiday trading restrictions. If you plan not to trade for the entire month, including holiday hours, and want to avoid being charged a data fee, you must email our team before the 26th of the previous month to request removal.
- Important: We do our best to notify you of holiday trading changes, but if you’ve unsubscribed from Topstep emails, you won’t receive alerts. To stay in the loop, please resubscribe to emails here.
Payout Eligibility and Limitations
A “Benchmark Trading Day” is a market day where you actively trade and earn at least $150 in Trading Profits (adjusted for holidays). You will not receive credit toward Live Funded Account Benchmark Trading Days for any Benchmark Trading Days earned in an Express Funded Account.
Payout eligibility in the Live Funded Account remains separate from balance expansion.
To be eligible for a payout:
- You must have at least 5 Benchmark Trading Days since either your Live Funded Account Effective Date or your last payout, whichever is later.
- Your initial and following payouts are limited to 50% of your share of Trading Profits until you reach 30 Benchmark Trading Days in your Live Funded Account.
- Once you have 30 Benchmark Trading Days in your Live Funded Account, you may:
- Request 100% of your share of Trading Profits.
- Request one payout per business day, provided other rules are followed.
- To comply with exchange and regulatory guidance, Topstep will monitor your account to ensure total payouts do not exceed 90% of the Starting Balance plus net Trading Profits. If needed, deductions may be made to stay within that limit.
Topstep will monitor your account to ensure total payouts do not exceed 90% of the Starting Balance plus net Trading Profits. If needed, deductions may be made to stay within that limit.