Now that your algorithms are installed, let's figure out how you're going to trade. Live cash account, prop firms, or both — each path has its own setup.
Pick the path that fits your situation. You can always add more later.
Trade with your own capital through a broker like NinjaTrader Brokerage. Full profits, full risk.
Trade the firm's capital after passing an evaluation. Lower personal risk, scalable to 20+ accounts.
Most popular ⭐Run a live account for your own capital while scaling prop firm accounts on the side.
If you just signed up for NinjaTrader and are using their brokerage, you'll need to deposit funds. The timeline depends on how you deposit:
While you wait for your deposit to clear, you can practice on sim. The algorithms work identically in simulation — use this time to watch how they trade and get comfortable.
For trading MNQ (Micro E-mini NASDAQ), most brokers require:
Once your funds are deposited and available, skip ahead to Step 8: Connections to connect your live account.
Prop firms let you trade their capital after you pass an evaluation. You put up a small fee, prove you can trade profitably, and then trade funded accounts with profit splits in your favor.
Great! Skip the education section below. Grab your affiliate links and discount codes from our prop firm page, pick up some evals, and head to Connections to wire them up.
No problem. Keep reading — we'll explain exactly how evaluations work, what happens when you pass, what it costs, and how to think about scaling.
Here's the process from start to finish:
You pay a one-time fee to start an evaluation account. This is a simulated account with a set of rules you must follow. Your goal: reach the profit target without breaking any rules.
When you hit the profit target without violating any rules, you "pass" the evaluation. The firm then gives you a Performance Account (PA) — a live funded account trading real money.
If you violate a rule — hit the max drawdown, exceed the daily loss limit, or break a trading rule — the account is "blown" and closed.
Let's break down a realistic investment using Apex Trader Funding as an example:
Apex and other firms run sales constantly — sometimes 60-80% off evaluations. There's almost no reason to buy at full price. Be patient and stock up during sales.
The math works when your algorithms are generating more in profits across 5 accounts than the $425/month in subscriptions. That's the business model.
More accounts = more profit potential, but also more subscription costs. Here's our recommendation:
Buy 2-3 evals to start. Pass them, get your PAs, watch them run for a week. Then buy more evals during the next sale. There's no rush.
We recommend the 50k EOD evaluation for beginners. It has a manageable profit target and the end-of-day trailing drawdown is more forgiving than real-time trailing.
Head to our Prop Firms page for affiliate links, discount codes, and detailed rules for each firm we work with. Then come back here to continue with connections.
This is the power move. Run your own live cash account for personal capital growth while simultaneously scaling prop firm accounts for leveraged profits.
Many of our most successful traders started with prop firms only, then added a live account once they built confidence watching the algos perform. There's no wrong order.