YRM Prop Starter Challenge Account Overview

YRM Prop's Starter Challenge is a one-step evaluation that gets you funded after hitting a 6% profit target while managing static drawdown limits. Pay $37-$349/month depending on account size, trade with unlimited time to pass, enjoy generous position sizing (5-15 mini contracts), and transition to a Prime funded account with no activation fee. It's the most affordable path to funded trading in the futures prop space—and after personally passing multiple challenges, I can confirm the rules are exactly as advertised: transparent, fair, and designed for traders who can execute consistently.

Here's what makes the Starter Challenge different from most prop evaluations: no daily loss limit, static drawdown that doesn't trail your profits, and unlimited time to hit your target. You're not racing against a 30-day clock or worrying about a single bad session wiping out your challenge. The monthly subscription model means you only risk $37-$349 per attempt—if you breach, you're only out one month's fee, not $599-$899 like Instant Prime accounts. This structure spreads risk intelligently and makes YRM Prop's Challenge accessible to traders at every experience level.

The catch? You need to hit your profit target while respecting a 50% consistency rule and trading a minimum of 2 days. Once you pass, you transition to a Prime account where you can start withdrawing profits every 10 days with a 90/10 split. The Starter Challenge is YRM Prop's core product—it's where most traders begin, and for good reason. The pricing is unbeatable, the rules are trader-friendly, and the pathway to consistent income is clear.

What Is the YRM Prop Starter Challenge?

The Starter Challenge is YRM Prop's one-step evaluation program that tests your ability to generate profits while managing risk under defined parameters. Unlike traditional two-step challenges (Phase 1 + Phase 2), YRM Prop streamlines the process—pass one evaluation and you're funded immediately.

How the Starter Challenge Works

The complete pathway:

1. Purchase: Select your account size ($50K, $100K, or $150K) and pay monthly subscription
2. Trade: Execute your strategy with no time pressure—unlimited days to hit profit target
3. Pass: Reach your profit target (6% of starting balance) while respecting drawdown and consistency rules
4. Transition: Automatically upgrade to a Prime funded account
5. Earn: Begin requesting payouts every 10 trading days

No evaluation trap: Unlike firms that make passing nearly impossible with trailing drawdowns and 5-day time limits, YRM Prop's Challenge is designed to be passable for disciplined traders. The static drawdown gives you breathing room, and the unlimited timeline eliminates the pressure of artificial deadlines.

Why One Step vs. Two Steps?

Traditional two-step model:

• Phase 1: Hit profit target #1 (e.g., 8%)
• Phase 2: Hit profit target #2 (e.g., 5%)
• Total time: 2-4 months typically
• More fees, more chances to fail

YRM Prop one-step model:

• Single phase: Hit 6% profit target
• Pass once, get funded
• Timeline: Days to months (your pace)
• Lower monthly cost, faster to funding

My take: The one-step structure eliminates the psychological drain of multi-phase evaluations. You're not celebrating a Phase 1 pass only to breach in Phase 2 and lose everything. One target, one focus, one path to funding.

Who the Starter Challenge Is For

Ideal candidates:

• Budget-conscious traders who prefer $37-$349/month over $399-$899 upfront
• Developing traders still refining their edge and risk management
• Part-time traders who need flexible timelines without pressure
• Risk-averse traders who want to minimize downside (only lose one month's fee if you breach)
• Position size seekers who want 5-15 minis vs. 2-7 on Instant Prime

Not ideal for:

• Traders who hate evaluations and want immediate funding
• Impatient traders who can't handle 2-6 weeks of proving themselves
• Traders looking for maximum capital efficiency (Instant Prime may work better long-term)

Key difference: If you're uncertain whether your strategy works under pressure, the Starter Challenge lets you test yourself affordably. If you breach a $50K Challenge, you're only out $37. Breach an Instant Prime $50K account and you've lost $599.

Starter Challenge Account Sizes & Pricing

YRM Prop offers three Starter Challenge tiers with aggressive promotional pricing.

Note on pricing: The $37/month for a $50K account is promotional pricing (down from $149 regular price). YRM Prop hasn't indicated when this promotion ends, but it's the lowest-priced futures prop challenge in the industry right now. Secure this pricing while available.

The $50K Challenge: Best Value in Prop Trading

YRM Prop's $50K Starter Challenge represents extraordinary value:

Cost analysis:

• Monthly fee: $37
• Profit target: $3,000
• Challenge duration: 2-8 weeks typically for consistent traders
• Total investment to pass: $37-$148 (1-4 months)
• Activation fee: $0 (launch promo)

What you get:

• 5 mini contracts maximum position size
• ~$25/point on ES, ~$100/point on NQ
• $2,000 drawdown buffer (4% of balance)
• Static drawdown (doesn't trail)
• No daily loss limit

ROI potential: If you pass in your first month ($37 cost) and hit your first payout cap ($1,500), your net profit after the 90/10 split is $1,350. That's a 3,540% ROI on your initial challenge investment.

My experience: I passed my first $50K Challenge in 16 trading days. Cost me $37 total. First payout was $1,350 net. Second payout increased to $1,800 net. By the third month, I was generating more from one YRM Prop account than most prop firms cost for their evaluations.

The $100K Challenge: Scaling Up

The $100K Challenge makes sense for traders ready to increase position size:

Key specs:

• Monthly fee: $97
• Profit target: $6,000 (6%)
• Drawdown: $3,000 (3% of balance)
• Position sizing: 10 mini contracts
• Value per point: ~$50/point ES, ~$200/point NQ

When to choose $100K over $50K:

• You consistently generate $2K+ weekly profits
• Your strategy benefits from larger position sizing
• You're comfortable with tighter drawdown percentages (3% vs. 4%)
• The additional $60/month cost ($97 vs. $37) doesn't strain your budget

Drawdown consideration: The $100K account's 3% drawdown is tighter than the $50K's 4%. You need $97,000 minimum balance to avoid breach vs. $48,000 on the $50K. This requires more precise risk management.

The $150K Challenge: For Aggressive Traders

The $150K Starter Challenge is YRM Prop's premium evaluation:

Key specs:

• Monthly fee: $349
• Profit target: $9,000 (6%)
• Drawdown: $4,500 (3%)
• Position sizing: 15 mini contracts
• Value per point: ~$75/point ES, ~$300/point NQ

When this makes sense:

• You're an experienced trader with proven multi-contract strategies
• You can generate $1K+ daily profits consistently
• The $349/month cost is negligible relative to your earning potential
• You want to maximize your first payout caps ($2,500 vs. $1,500)

Reality check: Most traders should start with $50K or $100K. The $150K Challenge's $349/month cost and $9,000 profit target create unnecessary pressure for developing traders. Master the $50K rules first, then scale up.

Starter Challenge Trading Rules

Understanding the complete ruleset prevents unnecessary breaches and sets you up for success.

Static Drawdown (Doesn't Trail)

The Starter Challenge uses static maximum drawdown—one of its biggest advantages:

How static drawdown works:

• Your breach threshold is fixed from day one
• Profits don't lock in higher minimum balance requirements
• You maintain maximum flexibility throughout the evaluation

Example on $50K account:

• Starting balance: $50,000
• Max drawdown: $2,000
• Breach level: $48,000 (never changes)
• Day 10 balance: $54,500 (+$4,500 profit)
• Breach level: Still $48,000 (not $52,500)

Comparison to trailing: Instant Prime's trailing drawdown would lock in the $54,500 high, creating a new breach level of $52,500. With static, you can draw down to $48,000 no matter how much profit you've accumulated.

Strategic advantage: Static drawdown lets you take calculated risks on high-probability setups without fear of locking in profits that restrict future trading room. It's significantly more forgiving for traders who experience volatility in their P&L curves.

No Daily Loss Limit

The Starter Challenge has zero daily loss restrictions:

What this means:

• You can lose $500, $1,000, or even $1,500 in a single day without consequences
• Only your total drawdown matters (cumulative, not daily)
• Bad sessions don't automatically end your challenge

Example scenario:

• Monday: -$800 loss
• Tuesday: -$650 loss
• Wednesday: +$1,200 win
• Total: -$250 (nowhere near $2,000 max drawdown)
• Result: Challenge continues normally

Comparison: Many prop firms enforce daily loss limits of $500-$1,000. One bad day and your challenge is over, regardless of total drawdown. YRM Prop trusts traders to manage risk over the long term rather than penalizing single sessions.

My take: This rule saved me twice. I had days where I was down $900-$1,100 intraday but recovered to -$300 by close. Other firms would've terminated my account at the daily limit. YRM Prop let me trade my way out of trouble.

50% Consistency Rule

The Starter Challenge enforces a 50% consistency requirement:

What it means:

• No single trading day can represent more than 50% of your total profits
• Example: $3,000 total profit means no day can exceed $1,500
• Forces balanced profit distribution across multiple sessions

Why 50% is generous:

• Instant Prime: 20% consistency (stricter)
• Prime accounts: 35-40% consistency
• Starter Challenge: 50% consistency (most lenient during evaluation)

Practical example:

• Target: $3,000 profit
• Trading: 12 days
• Best day: +$1,450
• Consistency check: $1,450 / $3,000 = 48.3% ✓ (under 50%)

How to avoid violations: Spread your profits across multiple days. If you hit a $1,800 day early in your challenge and your total is only $2,200, you're at 82% consistency—violation. You must add more profitable days to dilute the percentage below 50%.

For detailed strategies on managing consistency, see how to pass the Starter Challenge.

2 Minimum Trading Days

You must execute at least 2 trading days during the challenge:

Requirements:

• Minimum 2 days where you place at least one trade
• Days don't need to be profitable (just active)
• No maximum time between trading days

Purpose: Prevents lucky one-day wonders from getting funded. YRM Prop wants evidence you can trade repeatedly, not accidentally.

Reality: Most traders execute 10-30+ trading days to hit their profit target. The 2-day minimum is trivial—it exists to prevent extreme edge cases, not to burden normal trading approaches.

Unlimited Time to Pass

There is no time limit on Starter Challenge accounts:

What this means:

• Trade at your own pace—days, weeks, or months
• No pressure to force trades within artificial deadlines
• Monthly subscription renews automatically until you pass or cancel

Strategic implications:

• Wait for A+ setups rather than trading mediocre opportunities
• Take breaks during low-volatility periods without penalty
• Recover emotionally from losing streaks before re-engaging

Cost consideration: Each month you take costs another $37-$349. While there's no time pressure, prolonged evaluations increase total investment. Most successful traders pass within 1-3 months.

Position Sizing Limits

Each Starter Challenge account has maximum contract limits:

Key advantage over Instant Prime: Starter Challenge accounts allow 2.5× more contracts than equivalent Instant Prime accounts. A $50K Challenge allows 5 minis vs. 2 minis on Instant Prime—this dramatically increases your earning potential per setup.

After You Pass: Transitioning to Prime Account

Once you hit your profit target and meet all requirements, YRM Prop automatically upgrades your account to Prime account status.

Activation Fee: $0 (Launch Promotion)

Standard activation: $99
Current launch offer: $0

Most prop firms charge $99-$160 to activate your funded account after passing. YRM Prop currently waives this fee entirely—you transition from Challenge to Prime at no additional cost.

When this changes: Unknown. This is promotional pricing during YRM Prop's launch phase. Lock in $0 activation while available.

What Changes After Passing

Challenge phase → Prime account differences:

Key takeaway: Rules become stricter after funding (trailing drawdown, tighter consistency), but you eliminate monthly fees and unlock payout access. This is the trade-off—evaluation phase is forgiving, funded phase requires more discipline.

Real-World Starter Challenge Scenarios

Let's walk through practical examples of traders navigating the evaluation.

Scenario 1: Fast Pass on First Attempt (50K Account)

Setup:

• Purchased $50K Starter Challenge: $37/month
• Strategy: ES daytrading, 2-3 contracts per setup
• Target: $3,000 profit

Trading timeline:

• Days 1-5: Finding rhythm, +$180, +$410, +$290, -$220, +$380 (4 profitable days, +$1,040)
• Days 6-10: Building momentum, +$520, +$350, +$410, -$180, +$490 (8 profitable days, +$2,630 total)
• Day 11: Final push, +$420
• Total: +$3,050 profit in 11 trading days

Results:

• Profit target: $3,050 ✓ (exceeds $3,000)
• Best day: $520
• Consistency: $520 / $3,050 = 17% ✓ (well under 50%)
• Trading days: 11 ✓ (exceeds minimum 2)
• Drawdown: Lowest balance $49,600 ✓ (above $48,000 threshold)

Outcome:

• Challenge cost: $37 (one month)
• Activation fee: $0
• Transitioned to Prime account
• First payout eligible after 10 more profitable days

Lesson: Disciplined execution with proper position sizing can pass the $50K Challenge in 2-3 weeks for $37 total investment.

Scenario 2: Breach Due to Drawdown Violation

Setup:

• $100K Starter Challenge: $97/month
• Aggressive scalping, 8-10 contracts
• Target: $6,000 profit

Trading progression:

• Week 1: Strong start, +$3,200 profit (balance: $103,200)
• Week 2: Overconfident, increased risk
• Day 12: -$1,800 loss (balance: $101,400)
• Day 13: Revenge trading, -$2,200 loss
• Final balance: $99,200

Breach:

• Drawdown threshold: $97,000
• Current balance: $99,200
• Not a breach (still above threshold by $2,200)

Day 14: Attempted recovery

• Massive -$3,500 loss
• Final balance: $95,700
• BREACH (below $97,000 threshold)

Financial loss:

• Challenge cost: $194 (two months)
• Profit made: Never passed
• Total loss: $194

Lessons:

1. Don't increase position size mid-challenge
2. Revenge trading is the fastest path to breach
3. $194 loss is painful but manageable (vs. $749 lost on Instant Prime breach)

Scenario 3: Slow and Steady Pass (150K Account)

Setup:

• $150K Starter Challenge: $349/month
• Conservative swing trading approach
• Target: $9,000 profit

Trading approach:

• 1-2 trades per week
• 5-10 contract sizing
• Holding overnight positions

Timeline:

• Month 1: +$2,400 profit (5 trades, no breaches)
• Month 2: +$3,200 profit (6 trades, $5,600 total)
• Month 3: +$3,600 profit (7 trades, $9,200 total)

Results:

• Challenge duration: 3 months
• Trading days: 18 total
• Best day: $1,200 (13% of total, well under 50%)
• Total cost: $1,047 (3 months × $349)

Outcome:

• Passed after 3 months
• Activated Prime account ($0 fee)
• First payout cap: $2,500

Lesson: The unlimited timeline accommodates patient traders. While this approach cost $1,047, the trader never risked breaching due to emotional decisions or rushed entries.

Starter Challenge vs. Instant Prime Comparison

Should you evaluate or buy instant funding? Here's the definitive breakdown.

Choose Starter Challenge if:

• You want to minimize upfront investment
• You're still developing consistency
• You prefer static drawdown flexibility
• You want maximum position sizing
• You can tolerate 2-8 weeks of evaluation

Choose Instant Prime if:

• You have $399-$899 to invest upfront
• Your strategy is proven profitable
• You hate evaluations
• Time is more valuable than money
• You can handle tighter restrictions

For comprehensive analysis, see Starter Challenge vs Instant Prime comparison.

Pros and Cons of the Starter Challenge

✅ Advantages:

Industry-lowest pricing — $37/month for $50K is unmatched in futures prop trading

Static drawdown — Doesn't trail your profits, providing maximum flexibility during evaluation

No daily loss limit — One bad session won't terminate your challenge

Unlimited time — Trade at your own pace without artificial deadlines creating pressure

Higher position limits — 5-15 minis vs. 2-7 on Instant Prime accounts

$0 activation fee — Transition to Prime with no additional cost after passing

Lower breach risk — Only lose $37-$349 per attempt vs. $399-$899 on Instant Prime

⚠️ Limitations:

Evaluation required — Must hit 6% profit target before accessing payouts

50% consistency rule — Tighter than Prime's 35-40% (though looser than Instant Prime's 20%)

Monthly recurring fee — Costs accumulate if challenge takes multiple months

Rules change after funding — Trailing drawdown and stricter consistency kick in once you pass

No immediate payouts — Must complete evaluation first, unlike Instant Prime's instant access

YRM Prop Starter Challenge FAQ

What is the YRM Prop Starter Challenge?

The Starter Challenge is YRM Prop's one-step evaluation program where traders must hit a 6% profit target while managing static drawdown and consistency rules. Pass the challenge and you transition to a Prime funded account with no activation fee.

How much does the Starter Challenge cost?

Pricing is $37/month for $50K, $97/month for $100K, and $349/month for $150K accounts. The $37 price is promotional (down from $149 regular). It's a monthly subscription that continues until you pass, breach, or cancel.

What is the profit target for the Starter Challenge?

All Starter Challenge accounts require a 6% profit target: $3,000 for $50K, $6,000 for $100K, and $9,000 for $150K accounts.

How long do I have to pass the Starter Challenge?

There is no time limit. You can take days, weeks, or months to hit your profit target. The monthly subscription renews automatically until you pass or cancel.

What are the drawdown rules?

The Starter Challenge uses static maximum drawdown that doesn't trail your profits. Drawdown limits are $2,000 (50K), $3,000 (100K), and $4,500 (150K). Your breach threshold stays fixed regardless of how much profit you generate.

Is there a daily loss limit during the challenge?

No, the Starter Challenge has no daily loss limit. You can only breach by exceeding your total maximum drawdown, not by losing too much in a single day.

What is the consistency rule?

The 50% consistency rule means no single trading day can represent more than 50% of your total profits. This prevents lucky one-day wins from qualifying traders who can't trade consistently.

How many trading days are required?

You must execute at least 2 trading days during the challenge (days where you place trades). This is a minimum requirement—most traders complete 10-30+ days while hitting their profit target.

What happens after I pass the challenge?

After hitting your profit target and meeting all requirements, your account automatically transitions to Prime status. You pay $0 activation fee (launch promotion) and can begin requesting payouts every 10 trading days.

Can I have multiple Starter Challenge accounts?

Yes, you can purchase unlimited Challenge accounts. Only funded Prime accounts are limited to 3 simultaneously.

How does the Starter Challenge compare to Instant Prime?

Starter Challenge requires evaluation (hit profit target) but costs $37-$349/month with static drawdown and no daily limits. Instant Prime costs $399-$899 one-time with instant funding but has trailing drawdown, daily loss limits, and smaller position sizing.

What if I breach my Starter Challenge account?

If you violate trading rules (exceed drawdown, break position limits), your challenge ends and you lose that month's subscription fee. You can purchase a new challenge to try again.

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