Live Funded Account Starting 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. 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
Example:
You have four 50K Express Funded Accounts and one 150K Express Funded Account.
Step 1 — Calculate the average account size:
(50K + 50K + 50K + 50K + 150K) ÷ 5 = 350K ÷ 5 = 70K average
Step 2 — Determine your Live Funded Account tier:
Your average of 70K rounds up to the 100K Live Funded Account tier.
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 Size outlined in Section 1.
At Live activation:
20% of your combined total balance is available for trading
The remaining balance unlocks in 20% increments through performance milestones
Each unlock releases 20% of your available balance until you reach your Live Account starting balance.
Example:
Using the information from the above example with a 100k Live Funded Account, the actual starting capital (20%) would be $20,000, with $80,000 in your Live Funded Account Reserve
Balance Expansion Through Performance
Additional available balance in reserve becomes accessible through net profit milestones achieved in the Live Funded Account. These milestones are the same profit targets achieved in the Trading Combine.
Important:
Balance expansion does not change payout eligibility rules
Net profit required to unlock the next 20% increment of the Live Funded Account reserve balance
Our Risk Team will be reviewing once per week after market close on Friday
Traders may continue unlocking Live Funded Account balance reserves until 100% of the account Starting Balance has been made available for trading.
Daily Loss Limit
Live Funded Accounts begin with a Daily Loss Limit based on account size:
$2,000 for $50K accounts
$3,000 for $100K accounts
$4,500 for $150K accounts.
Regardless of account size, if the tradable balance reaches $10,000 or below, the Daily Loss Limit will be set to $2,000.
Example:
If you have a 100K Live Funded Account and your end-of-day balance goes below $10,000, your Daily Loss Limit will be changed from $3,000 to $2,000 before the start of the next trading session. The DLL will return to $3,000 once your end-of-day balance rises above $10,000.
This objective is updated at the end of each active trading day. This safeguard is designed to limit downside risk during lower-balance periods while allowing traders to continue operating under the same risk framework across all Live account tiers. You can learn more here.
Shoulder Tap Express Funded Account
The Shoulder Tap Express Funded Account is a simulated funded account created after a call down from a Live Funded Account. The Shoulder Tap is part of the Live Funded Account risk framework. It provides a structured risk intervention process and, if needed, a clear path out of Live trading with the opportunity to return. The goal is to support long-term consistency and sustainability in live markets.
What Shoulder Tap Means
The term Shoulder Tap comes from live trading floors, where risk managers step in during periods of drawdown to review performance and help traders refocus. At Topstep, a Shoulder Tap refers to Risk Team involvement when a Live Funded Account reaches defined drawdown thresholds, including a review of recent trading behavior and possible adjustments to reduce risk and stabilize performance.
Objective
The objective is to demonstrate consistency and work toward returning to Live trading. Generally, Traders will need to secure 5 payouts in order for risk to make a determination to call back up to a Live Funded Account, though it may happen sooner or later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Live Funded Account FAQs
Can I take payouts before unlocking all reserved capital?
Yes. Payout eligibility is not tied to capital expansion. You may take payouts while still trading with partial account access.
Is live trading capital my money?
No. Live trading capital represents live trading capital of Topstep’s prop firm that becomes available for trading as you demonstrate consistent performance. It is not available for trading or margin use until it is officially unlocked. Portions of this capital may become eligible to withdraw by you based on reaching certain performance metrics. Once withdrawn, the withdrawn funds are your money.
Can I unlock multiple tiers of reserve capital with one large winning trade?
No. Capital expansion requires net profits since the last expansion, reviewed weekly. This prevents capital unlocks from being driven by a single oversized win.
How often is capital expansion reviewed?
Capital expansion is reviewed by the Risk Team each Friday after market close, based on net performance and observed trading behavior.
What happens if my performance stalls after an expansion?
If performance stalls, capital simply remains at the current level. There is no penalty for slower progress as long as the account rules are followed.
Can capital expansion be delayed or denied?
Yes. Traders who engage in excessive or reckless risk behavior may have capital expansion delayed or declined at the discretion of the risk team.
Why is Topstep making this change to Live Accounts?
This structure is designed to help you scale in safely, adapt to real market conditions, and work alongside the Risk Team with a clear path toward full account access.
When do these changes go into effect?
These changes apply to any Live Funded Account funded and tradeable on or after February 10, 2026.
What happens when I hit the Live Funded Account cap in my Express Funded Account and haven’t been called up to Live?
Once you reach the maximum Live Funded Account balance cap in your Express Funded Account, you’ll continue trading and taking payouts while being evaluated for Live. The Live Account balance cap is in place to ensure traders are focusing on consistency and withdrawals rather than stacking up unrealized simulated profits.
What happens to the rest of my balance in my Express Funded Account if I’m over the cap?
Any balance over the Live Funded Account cap size does not transfer to Live. The excess is forfeited.
Will taking a payout impact my eligibility for unlocking the next Reserve tier?
No. Net P&L calculations are based on trading losses and do not include payouts.
Once my funds are transferred to Live and I have 30 winning days, can I take a 100% payout?
Yes. When we call you up to Live and create your Live Funded Account, we hope that you will take full advantage of the opportunity and benefits of Live trading with Topstep like unlimited growth potential and uncapped daily payouts.
What happens if I lose my 20% starting balance?
If your Live Funded Account balance drops below $0, the account will be liquidated immediately, and the account will be closed at the end of the trading day. The remaining balance in reserve will be forfeited.
Please note: Starting July 22, 2025, winning days from your Express Funded Account will no longer carry over to Live. Only winning days earned in Live count toward daily payouts and full balance access. Traders already in Live before this date are not affected.
Shoulder Tap Express Funded Account FAQs
How long do I have to make it back to my Live Funded Account?
Risk will continue to evaluate your trading and make a determination as to when appropriate to call you back up to a Live Funded Account. Generally, Traders will need to secure 5 payouts in order for risk to make a determination to call back up to a Live Funded Account, though it may happen sooner or later.
Can I use Back2Funded on a Shoulder Tap Express Funded Account?
No. Back2Funded is not available for Shoulder Tap Express Funded Accounts.
How long can I stay in the Shoulder Tap Express Funded Account?
You may remain in the account until you either move back up to the Live Funded Account or the account balance reaches $0 and closes.
Is returning to Live guaranteed after five payouts?
No. Five payouts is a general guideline in risk evaluation, but approval is discretionary and based on overall trading behavior, you can be called up sooner or later than 5 payouts.