Choosing a prop firm instead of a traditional broker gives you more capital, less personal risk, and a direct path to professional trading. MasterFunders makes the benefits real by offering high funding, low entry costs, and robust support at every stage.
What’s the Real Difference Between a Prop Firm and a Broker?
A prop firm provides you with trading capital and pays you a share of the profits, while a broker only lets you trade with your own money, meaning all profits and all risks are yours. Prop firms limit your losses to a one-time evaluation fee, while brokers can drain your savings if trades go wrong.
Prop Firm vs Broker: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Prop Firm (MasterFunders) | Traditional Broker |
| Initial Capital | Start with up to $200K firm capital | Use only your personal funds |
| Personal Risk | Limited to evaluation/challenge fee | Unlimited; can lose entire deposit |
| Profit Structure | Up to 90% profit split, high funding | 100% profit, but from small account |
| Scaling | Grow account with performance (scaling plan) | Add personal deposits only |
| Support/Education | Full trading education, support, and community | Usually self-directed |
| Rules/Guardrails | Strict risk management, payout conditions | Minimal trading restrictions |
| Loss Consequences | Lose fee only, never owe more | Lose entire deposit, face margin calls |
A prop firm lets you prove your skills, pass an evaluation, and trade with company funds. A broker gives you access to the markets but only with your own capital.
Want the details? See What is a Prop Firm? and our Prop Trading Glossary for all the terminology.:
How Do Prop Firms Like MasterFunders Limit Your Personal Risk?
MasterFunders caps your risk at the cost of your evaluation fee—no margin calls, no risk of losing more than you paid to enter. If you lose the firm’s money, you never owe extra.
- No Margin Calls:
You will never get a call to add more money. Fail the challenge or funded phase, and your only loss is the evaluation fee. - No Debt, No Additional Charges:
Even if you lose the entire funded account, your personal capital is safe. - Unlimited Risk with Brokers:
Trade with a broker and your risk is the full amount you deposit—sometimes more, if you’re over-leveraged or caught in a margin call.
Example—$100K Account:
- At MasterFunders: If you blow up a $100,000 funded account, your loss is capped at your original fee (for example, $435 for a $100K challenge).
- At a broker: Lose your $100,000 balance and it’s gone—sometimes you might even owe more if your losses exceed your deposit during volatile market moves.
Prop firms like MasterFunders cap your maximum possible loss at the entry fee. With brokers, traders risk all deposited funds and can face additional debt through margin calls. Prop firms protect your personal finances by never allowing losses beyond your initial investment.
Can You Really Make More With a Prop Firm?
Yes, prop firms like MasterFunders let you trade with much bigger accounts and earn up to a 90% profit split, so your real-world earnings can dwarf what you’d get from a small personal broker account.
- Profit Splits:
MasterFunders pays you up to 90% of your trading profits once funded—far above the typical 80% industry average. - Bigger Funding, Bigger Potential:
Trading a $100,000 funded account (at MasterFunders) means a 5% gain nets you $4,500, with up to $4,050 going straight to you (90%).
Trade your own $10,000 at a broker and the same 5% gain is just $500, minus commissions, fees, and risk.
Example Table: Profit from Same Trade Size
| Scenario | Account Size | Gain % | Gross Profit | Profit Split | Take-Home Profit |
| Broker (Personal Funds) | $10,000 | 5% | $500 | 100% | $500 |
| MasterFunders | $100,000 | 5% | $5,000 | 90% | $4,500 |
- Scaling Plans:
Consistent traders can grow their funded account by 25% every three months, potentially doubling it within a year. - Biweekly Payouts:
Withdraw profits every 14 days—no payout traps, no hidden fees.
MasterFunders charges no hidden commissions on payouts. Your profit split is yours—fast, transparent, and reliable.
Prop firms offer larger account sizes and profit splits up to 90%. With more capital and scaling opportunities, traders can make far more than with a small personal broker account, even after sharing profits.
What Resources and Support Do You Get With a Prop Firm?
Prop firms like MasterFunders offer ongoing trading education, a support team, and instant account access, giving traders tools and guidance brokers rarely provide.
- Education:
MasterFunders gives you free access to courses, webinars, a complete trading glossary, and a supportive trader community. - Support Team:
Get help by email, chat, or support tickets—especially useful during challenge phases or if you hit a drawdown. - Advanced Tools:
Use MasterFunders’ high-performance trading platform and real-time account monitoring. Instant account access means you can start trading the same day you join. - Broker Comparison:
Most brokers offer a platform and a FAQ page. Prop firms add active guidance, real human support, and a progression path from novice to pro.
Stuck during a drawdown or not sure about a rule? The MasterFunders support team will walk you through your options, like using a Second Life or resetting your challenge. Brokers leave you to figure it out alone.
Prop firms provide structured education, responsive support, and advanced tools—unlike most brokers, who expect self-guided learning and minimal help.
Are There Downsides to Prop Firms? (And How MasterFunders Solves Them)
Prop firms have rules and evaluations, but MasterFunders minimizes hassle with no minimum trading days, flexible trading rules, and unique safety features like Second Life and Reset.
- Common Downsides:
- Some prop firms require minimum trading days—slows you down.
- Many restrict trading during news, weekends, or with EAs.
- Hard rules: break one and you’re out, with no appeal.
- Most don’t let you reset or retry easily after failing.
- MasterFunders’ Solutions:
- No Minimum Trading Days: Pass your challenge in one day if you’re skilled—no forced delays.
- Flexible Trading Rules: Trade news, hold weekends, use most strategies.
- Second Life/Reset: Extra shot at passing, even after blowing a challenge.
- Transparent Rulebook: Everything is spelled out—no hidden tricks.
Table: MasterFunders vs. Typical Firms/Brokers
| Feature | MasterFunders | Typical Prop Firm | Broker |
| Minimum Trading Days | None | 5–10 | None |
| Trading Restrictions | News & weekends OK | Often restricted | Few |
| Loss Protection | Second Life/Reset | None | None |
| Scaling Opportunity | Yes (by performance) | Sometimes | No |
| Support & Education | Full | Sometimes | Minimal |
While most prop firms enforce strict rules and limited retries, MasterFunders offers unique flexibility—no minimum days, second chances, and fewer trading restrictions—making it easier for disciplined traders to succeed.
Who Should Choose a Prop Firm Over a Broker?
A prop firm like MasterFunders is the perfect fit for traders who want to grow fast with low personal risk and a clear professional path—but it’s not for everyone.
Prop Firms Are Ideal For:
- Traders with limited capital who want access to larger trading accounts.
- Anyone looking to scale up rapidly based on skill, not deposit size.
- People who want structure, support, and a real chance at a trading career.
Who Should Stick With Brokers:
- Traders who demand total freedom, like using EAs (automated bots) or running unlimited risk.
- Anyone unwilling to follow strict risk management and trading rules.
- Those who don’t want to be evaluated or supervised.
Quick Self-Assessment: Are You Right for MasterFunders?
- Are you ready to follow rules and manage risk, not just chase big wins?
- Would you rather trade with someone else’s capital and keep up to 90% of the profits?
- Do you want to accelerate your trading journey with ongoing support and scaling?
If you answered “yes” to most, MasterFunders is a fit.
Prop firms suit traders seeking growth, capital, and structure. If you prefer full independence or don’t want rule-based trading, brokers may be better.
How Do You Get Started With MasterFunders?
Getting funded with MasterFunders is fast and straightforward: sign up, pick your challenge, pass the evaluation, and start trading real capital.
Step-by-Step:
- Sign Up: Create your account with MasterFunders in minutes.
- Choose Your Challenge: Pick the account size that matches your ambition—up to $200,000.
- Pass the Evaluation: Trade within the rules, hit the profit target, and show discipline.
- Get Funded: Move to a funded account, keep up to 90% of your profits, and scale up as you succeed.
Highlights:
- Fast Sign-Up: Start today—no lengthy applications.
- Low-Cost Entry: Pay only the evaluation fee. No hidden costs.
- Instant Access: Start trading the same day.
- Biggest Funding: Up to $200,000 from day one.
Join MasterFunders, choose your challenge, pass the evaluation, and trade up to $200,000 in funded capital—with fast onboarding and low fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the maximum I can lose with a prop firm?
You can never lose more than your evaluation or challenge fee at MasterFunders—no margin calls, no extra charges. Your personal savings stay untouched.
Can I really keep up to 90% of my profits?
Yes. Successful traders keep 80% by default and up to 90% of profits once certain milestones are met. Payouts are biweekly and processed within days.
What happens if I fail the challenge?
If you break a loss rule or don’t hit the target, the challenge ends. With MasterFunders, you may get a “Second Life” (retry) or a reset if eligible—unique safety nets most firms don’t offer.
Is there support for new traders?
Absolutely. MasterFunders provides full educational resources, support channels, and a community to help you through every step, from first trade to payout.
How fast can I get funded?
You can complete your challenge and become a funded trader in as little as one day—there are no minimum trading days, so you set the pace.
Ready to stop risking your own savings and start trading like a pro? Get instant access to capital, real profit splits, and full support with MasterFunders—apply for your challenge today.
