KickStart Trading presents itself as a trader-development business that sells education, coaching and trading tools alongside funded-account programmes. Its funding hub lists six pathways: Instant Funding, 1-Step FX, 2-Step FX, Futures, 1-Step Futures and Equities. The funding pages say KickStart Trading is an affiliate of Prop Account, LLC, and that all funding assessments are provided by, and all fees paid to, Prop Account, LLC. The site footer names KickStart Trading Ltd, registered in England and Wales under company number 12070889, with a registered office in Fitzrovia, London.
Standard profit splits run from 75% (1-Step FX and 2-Step FX) to 90% (at the live funded stage of the multi-phase Futures programme). The lowest one-time price we saw was $45, for a $5K 1-Step FX or $5K Equities account. Rules differ a great deal between the six pathways, so we set them out programme by programme below.
This review uses only KickStart Trading's own website and help centre. The funding pages say the provider's own terms govern the accounts; we did not review Prop Account, LLC's terms document, so we describe only what KickStart's pages say. Where KickStart's pages disagree with each other, we point it out.
Everything in this review comes from KickStart Trading's own web pages, saved on 7–9 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the firm's site before you buy.
| Highest profit split | Up to 90% source Firm's wording: “Futures traders can qualify for payouts from Phase 1, with transparent progression, defined risk controls, and a 90% standard profit split.” |
|---|---|
| Cheapest account | $45 (list price) source |
| Account types | 1-Step evaluation, 2-Step evaluation, Instant funding (no evaluation) source |
| Markets | Forex, Futures, Crypto, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Metals source source |
| Platforms | DXtrade, Match-Trader, GooeyPro, Volumetrica, cTrader source source |
| Allowed / offered on at least one account type |
Rules can differ between account types — check the linked page for the account you want. |
Prices are in US dollars. The 1-Step Futures page lists 1-Step FX, 2-Step FX and the multi-phase Futures route as one-time fees and 1-Step Futures as a monthly subscription. The Equities page shows its prices as one-time. We did not see the billing basis stated for Instant Funding.
| Programme | Account sizes | Price range | Profit target | Daily loss | Maximum loss | Standard split |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instant Funding | $5K–$100K | $200–$5,000 | None | 5% | 8% trailing | 80% |
| 1-Step FX | $5K–$1M | $45–$9,800 (one-time) | 10% | 5% | 6% trailing | 75% |
| 2-Step FX | $5K–$500K | $60–$2,760 (one-time) | 8% then 5% | 5% | 8% static | 75% |
| Futures (multi-phase) | $25K–$150K | $285–$1,735 (one-time) | 9% per phase, four phases | None listed | 5% trailing on end-of-day balance | 90% (live funded stage) |
| 1-Step Futures | $25K–$150K | $150–$360 per month | 6% | None | Intraday equity high-water mark ($1,500–$4,500) | 80% (above the required buffer) |
| Equities | $5K–$200K | $45–$1,400 (one-time) | 10% | 2.5% intraday trailing | 3% trailing on closed balance | 80% |
The funding hub page we saved still showed a September promotion, stated to end on 30 September, with lower promotional prices and a 90% split included on promotional purchases. We have used the regular prices shown on each programme page, not the promotional ones.
On Instant, 1-Step FX and 2-Step FX, the programme pages list three optional checkout add-ons: a 90/10 profit split (+20%), Weekend Holding (+10%) and Payout Protector (+25%). The percentages are added to the base account price, and add-ons must be chosen at purchase. The Equities page lists different add-ons: a 90% profit share (+15%), a 33% consistency threshold (+20%), a 50% consistency threshold (+35%), Payout-on-Breach (+25%) and a Lock-Upon-Payout Waiver (+25%).
Instant Funding has no evaluation and no profit target; the account must stay within a 5% daily loss limit and an 8% trailing drawdown. 1-Step FX has one phase with a 10% target, a 5% daily loss limit and a 6% trailing drawdown. 2-Step FX has an 8% target in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2, with the same 5% daily loss limit and an 8% static drawdown in both phases.
The help centre says the daily loss limit resets at 5:00 PM EST and is based on the greater of the prior day's end-of-day balance or equity. Trailing drawdown trails closed balance, not equity, and locks at the starting balance once a set return is reached. Funded accounts generally follow the assessment rules without a profit target. For non-Futures programmes, 30 consecutive days without trading can count as an inactivity breach. Leverage on 1-Step plans is up to 20:1 on forex and metals, 10:1 on indices, 5:1 on oil and 2:1 on crypto; 2-Step plans may raise forex and metals to 30:1, and Instant plans may offer up to 50:1.
The multi-phase Futures programme has four phases, each with a 9% target, a 5% maximum loss that trails the end-of-day balance, a 25% consistency requirement and a 60-day time limit. The help centre says the 60-day timer starts with the first trade and cannot be paused or extended. The trailing loss locks at the starting balance after a 5% return, and end of day is 16:00 CST. There is no daily loss limit.
Contract limits are 1 standard/15 micro ($25K), 3/30 ($50K), 6/60 ($100K) and 9/90 ($150K). At least one trade is needed every 14 days in Phases 1–4 and every 7 days at the live funded stage. Missing the consistency requirement does not close the account, but both the target and consistency must be met to complete a phase. Up to four Funded Futures accounts can be active, one per size, with a combined starting balance of no more than $325,000. Market data fees are included in Phases 1–4; at the live funded stage, data or platform fees may be deducted monthly from the account. Commissions are charged per side, for example $2.18 for ES and NQ and $0.71 for MES and MNQ.
1-Step Futures has a single assessment with a 6% target, a 30-day assessment window, no daily loss limit and no minimum trading days. Its maximum loss follows the highest equity reached intraday, including unrealised gains, and locks once it reaches the starting balance. Your best day may not exceed 33.33% of total profit when passing or requesting a payout. Contract limits run from 1 standard/10 micro on $25K to 12/120 on $150K, and the inactivity period is 30 days. Assessment gains are not withdrawable.
Equities has one evaluation with a 10% target, a 2.5% daily loss limit that trails intraday, a 2.5% daily profit cap in the evaluation and a 3% maximum drawdown. Exceeding the profit cap pauses trading for the day rather than ending the account. The maximum drawdown trails the highest closed balance and locks at the starting balance once the account is up 3%. At least three profitable days of 0.5% or more are needed in both the Evaluation and Funded phases. Trading is limited to 09:30–15:55 ET, and every position must be closed by 15:55 ET; holding past that is a hard breach. In the Funded phase, no more than 25% of total profit may come from one day for a payout, unless a consistency add-on is bought.
The help centre's prohibited-trading policy covers exploiting platform errors or latency, non-public information, front-running, arbitrage, third-party passing strategies, prohibited news trading, gambling-style behaviour and using one strategy to pass and another when funded where prohibited. The provider may remove gains or end participation if it finds prohibited activity.
A hard breach, such as breaking the daily loss, maximum drawdown or inactivity rule, can end the assessment or funded account; a soft breach may close the violating trade, but trading continues.
The help centre says funded-account withdrawals are requested through the trader dashboard no more than once every 30 days. For Instant accounts, the minimum withdrawal is the greater of $100 or 1% of the starting balance, and after an approved withdrawal the trailing drawdown locks at the starting balance. Equities sets its own schedule: the first payout after 14 days in the Funded phase, then every 14 days, with a $100 minimum.
On the multi-phase Futures programme, each completed phase pays a fixed amount, and the payout must be completed before the account moves to the next phase.
| Futures account | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 | Phase 4 | Live funded account size (starting balance) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25K | $500 | $750 | $750 | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| $50K | $1,000 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| $100K | $2,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $6,000 | $12,000 |
| $150K | $3,000 | $4,500 | $4,500 | $9,000 | $18,000 |
After Phase 4, the trader moves to a live funded account with a starting balance of $3,000 ($25K plan), $6,000 ($50K), $12,000 ($100K) or $18,000 ($150K). That account has a static maximum loss of half its starting balance ($1,500–$9,000), no profit target, consistency rule or time limit, and a 90% split. On 1-Step Futures, a non-withdrawable buffer equal to the maximum loss stays in the funded account, and the 80% split applies only to profit above it. The firm's own example shows that on a $25K account, profit equal to the 6% target ($1,500) leaves nothing withdrawable.
Payout Protector is an optional add-on that may let a trader still receive eligible gains after a breach; without it, gains on a hard-breached Funded Futures account may be forfeited. After passing an assessment, the funded account is typically issued within 24–48 business hours once KYC and the trader agreement are complete. For Instant Funding, KYC may not be needed until a withdrawal is requested; if KYC then fails, the withdrawal may be rejected and gains forfeited. Funded traders are treated as independent contractors and are responsible for their own taxes.
For the FX/CFD programmes, the help centre lists DXtrade, MatchTrader and cTrader through GooeyTrade. The futures programmes use DXFutures and Volumetrica. Equities trade only through GooeyPro, with up to 2:1 leverage.
Non-Futures programmes may include FX pairs, CFD indices, commodities, metals and cryptocurrencies, as streamed by the liquidity provider. Futures products listed include equity index, currency, energy, metal, agricultural and crypto futures such as ES, NQ, CL, GC, ZC and MBT. The Equities programme covers S&P 100 stocks.
The help centre says simulated phases are executed against liquidity provided by the trading platform, and that a live funded account gets pricing and execution from the exchange or market venue. One Futures FAQ answer instead says Funded Futures buyers receive Rithmic R | Trader credentials and must complete a CME market-data attestation in R | Trader Pro before using Rithmic web or mobile platforms. Because the Futures programme page and the help centre's platform answer both name DXFutures and Volumetrica, we have used those.
The Terms, Refunds & Legal page names KickStart Trading Ltd (company number 12070889, registered in England and Wales) as the legal entity responsible for the website. It says the company does not manage client funds or execute trades for customers. It also says KickStart may act as an affiliate for programmes supplied by Prop Account, LLC and related providers and may receive a commission or other commercial benefit, and that the third party's own refund and cancellation policy applies where it is the merchant. The funding programme pages say purchases and fees are processed by Prop Account, LLC.
The help centre says traders from most countries can take part, excluding OFAC-listed countries and other jurisdictions limited at the company's discretion. Buyers must be at least 18, or the minimum legal age in their country. Card charges appear as Dashboardanalytix.com. The About page says the business is led by Christopher Guzman, its Founder, CEO and Head Trader.
Traders who want a fixed drawdown floor can note that, in the hub's comparison table, 2-Step FX is the pathway listed with a static maximum drawdown. Futures traders who want payouts during progression can compare the multi-phase Futures route (one-time fee, 90% at the live stage) with 1-Step Futures (monthly fee, 80% above a buffer). The Equities route is built for intraday traders of large US stocks who close every position before the session ends. Traders who hold positions through news or over weekends on FX/CFD accounts should read the news-window and Friday-close rules first.
MyPropGenius Rating:
The rating measures how openly KickStart Trading discloses its rules, pricing, payouts and ownership (our Transparency Index methodology). It does not measure how likely you are to pass or be paid.
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KickStart Trading sells six funding pathways, supplied through Prop Account, LLC, with rules set out in detail per programme and per account size. Standard splits range from 75% on the FX evaluations to 90% at the live stage of the multi-phase Futures route, with paid add-ons for a higher split on the FX and Equities routes. Check the rules for your exact programme, and note that some help-centre answers on futures platforms do not match the programme pages.
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Find My MatchKickStart Trading says it is an affiliate of Prop Account, LLC, which provides the funding assessments and receives the fees.
The lowest one-time price shown is $45, for a $5K 1-Step FX account or a $5K Equities account.
Standard splits are 80% on Instant, 75% on 1-Step FX and 2-Step FX, 80% on 1-Step Futures (on profit above a required buffer) and 80% on Equities. The multi-phase Futures route pays fixed amounts in Phases 1–4 and a 90% split at the live funded stage. A 90% split is a paid add-on on the FX and Equities routes.
Not by default. On Instant, 1-Step FX and 2-Step FX, trades must be closed by 3:45 PM EST on Friday unless the Weekend Holding add-on is bought. Equities positions must be closed by 15:55 ET every day, and Futures positions cannot be held over the weekend.
No. The help centre says a breached account cannot be reset; a new account must be bought.
Yes, automated strategies may be used, subject to the prohibited-trading policy and provider rules.