Futures prop firms make money in two main ways: evaluation fees paid by traders who want a funded account, and a share of the profits earned by traders once they’re funded. How a firm balances those two tells you a lot about whether it actually wants you to succeed.
Here’s how the model works, where the money comes from, and how BluSky approaches it.
Revenue source 1: Evaluation fees
Most traders start with an evaluation, a simulated account with a profit target, a drawdown and a few other rules. You pay a fee to take it. That fee covers the cost of running the account: market data, platform connections, risk monitoring, support and the people behind it.
It’s worth being honest about this part. Many traders don’t pass on their first try, and evaluation fees are a real part of how every prop firm in the industry pays its bills. That’s exactly why the rules matter. Clear, published rules give you a fair shot. Vague or shifting rules mean the fee is the product.
At BluSky, every plan’s rules, targets and costs are published in our help center, and you can choose how you want to get in:
- Launch: pass in as little as 2 days, the lowest-cost way into a BluSky account.
- Propel: pass in as little as 3 days.
- Orbit: pass in as little as 1 day.
- Instant: skip the evaluation and get funded today.
Revenue source 2: Profit sharing
Once you’re funded, the firm earns when you earn. You request a payout from your profits, and the firm keeps a share. At BluSky, traders keep 90% of every payout on evaluation-based plans. Instant plans, which skip the evaluation, carry a lower split. Full payout terms are in our Payouts article.
This is the part of the model that aligns the firm with the trader. A firm that earns from profit sharing needs funded traders who stay funded and keep getting paid. That’s why the best firms invest in things that help traders last: fair drawdowns, fast payouts and a community to learn from.
Where does the trading capital come from?
In the funded stage, most futures prop firms, BluSky included, use simulated accounts that mirror real market conditions. Your profits are real and paid out, but you’re not putting your own savings at risk in the market. Traders who keep performing can move into a live brokerage account, which is backed by firm capital.
That structure is what makes the model work for both sides. You get access to size you might not have on your own, and the firm can back many traders while managing its risk.
How to tell if a prop firm wants you to win
Every firm says it’s on your side. Here’s how to check:
- Do they actually pay? Look for a long track record of payouts. BluSky has paid out more than $15 million to traders.
- How often can you get paid? BluSky offers daily payouts, with a $500 minimum across plans.
- Is the drawdown fair? Know whether your floor trails your balance or stays fixed. BluSky offers static drawdown plans where the floor never moves.
- Are the rules published? If you can’t find the rules before you buy, that’s a red flag.
- Is there a real community? A firm that wants long-term traders builds a place for them. Ours is on Discord.
The bottom line
Prop firms make money from evaluation fees and from sharing in funded traders’ profits. The fees keep the lights on. The profit share is where a firm shows whether it’s built to grow with its traders.
BluSky is built for the second part. We win when our traders get paid, so we focus on clear rules, daily payouts and fair drawdowns.
See for yourself. Compare BluSky plans and read the rules before you buy.