When am I ready? Criteria for the switch
Click an underlined word to see what it means.
The most common mistake: a trader has one good week on demo and deposits real money the next day. A month later they're gone.
The 5 criteria we use
- 60 days on demo, not one week.
- The result is positive, even after costs (commissions).
- Not one breach of the daily loss limit.
- You keep your rules in at least 80% of trades (Sentinel counts it).
- Your largest is smaller than what a prop firm would allow.
Why consistency
The market can hand you one good week by pure chance. 60 days of is not chance. It means you have a process that works and that you can keep it when things go badly.
If you miss any criterion, you're not “almost ready”. You stay on demo for another month. That's not a defeat, it's cheaper than a blown account.
What about the feeling?
You're ready when losing a trade feels boring. If your heart pounds after a loss, the position is too big or you're not ready yet.
✅ Quick check
What is the most important sign that you're ready for real money?
Education, not financial advice. Trading futures is risky and you can lose more than you put in.