Minimum Trading Days
“No time limit” is true. It’s also incomplete. Most firms require a minimum number of trading days, with a profit, before you can pass or request a payout. A trader who hits the target in one session is told to keep trading until the day count is met.
How it works
- FTMO: 4 minimum trading days per phase (a day counts if at least one trade is closed).
- Topstep: 5 profitable (green) days required on the funded account before payouts.
- Many firms: a “trading day” requires at least one trade and counts only if a profit is made on some programs.
The trap
The target is hit in two days. You now need four. Those extra days are risk days, you can give the profit back while “completing” the day count. This is not a conspiracy; it’s risk management. But it is a real constraint that the “no time limit” banner never mentions.
Ask before buying
- How many minimum trading days per phase?
- Does a day count with a loss, a break-even, or only a profit?
- Do the days reset with a reset purchase?
If the minimum-days rule isn’t on the pricing page, add it to your notes. It changes how fast you can realistically pass.