Prop Firm Due Diligence: What to Read Before You Buy
This site does not tell you which firms pay. Nobody can verify that from the outside, and claiming otherwise would be a guess dressed as data. What you can do is read each firm's own documents against the same set of checkable questions, so that two firms are judged on the same basis. That is the method below.
Documents to open first
Terms & conditions, the payout or withdrawal policy, the trading-rules page for the specific account type you intend to buy, and the checkout page itself. Screenshot each one with the date visible.
The eight checks
1
Is a payout window published at all?
Look for a stated processing time in the firm's own payout policy or FAQ — not in marketing copy. A checkable criterion is simply: does the document state a number of business days? If it does not, record it as "not specified" and factor that into your decision.
2
What makes the first payout eligible?
Most programmes attach conditions to the first withdrawal: a minimum number of funded trading days, a minimum profit amount, or a waiting period. Find the exact clause and write down the numbers before you buy.
3
Is there a consistency requirement?
Consistency rules cap how much of your total profit any single day or trade may represent. They are legitimate when published clearly, and they are the most common reason an otherwise profitable account fails to qualify. Check whether the threshold is a stated percentage and when it is measured.
Maven. Consistency terms are published in the rulebook — a good document to run checks one to three against.
What happens if you breach after requesting a payout?
Some rulebooks state that a breach occurring while a payout request is under review voids the request. Others don't address it. Search the terms for the words "pending", "under review" and "breach" and see what is actually written.
5
Which methods and which fees?
Confirm the payout rails the firm supports for your country, any minimum withdrawal amount, and who pays transfer fees. Note the minimum in currency terms, not as a percentage.
6
Whose terms are you agreeing to?
Check the legal entity named in the terms, its jurisdiction, and whether the same entity appears on the checkout page. Note the date the terms were last updated.
Alpha Futures. Check which legal entity and account type the futures programme terms name before you buy.
Can you find the answers without contacting support?
Transparency signal: if payout conditions require a support ticket to discover, that is a documented finding you can weigh — no accusation required.
8
Re-check before every purchase.
Programme terms change. Anything you read here or anywhere else is a snapshot; the firm's live document is the only authority.
Firms to run the checklist against
Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Our recommendations are based on the factors explained on each page.
The5ers
Forex · CFDs
Traders who want to read a long-established firm's published programme rules before buying.
What the firm publishes · checked 20 Aug 2026
Payout window
Every 14 days, after qualifying profitable days (published)
Profit split
50–80%, scaling toward 100% (published)
Consistency rule
Check current terms
Operating since 2016 — the longest track record in this set.
Minimum withdrawal thresholds apply, and some plans cap withdrawals.
Published or claimed by the firm — not independently verified. Confirm in the firm's live terms before buying.
