1-Step Prop Firm Challenge: Pass One Evaluation and Get Funded
The 1-Step challenge is River Valley Capital's single-phase evaluation. Reach a 10% profit target without breaking the 5% daily loss limit or the 6% static drawdown, and you move to a funded account with the same rules and no profit target. There is no time limit and no minimum number of trading days.
- 10% profit target
- 6% static drawdown
- No time limit
- Up to 90% profit split
Last updated
1-Step Challenge Rules at a Glance
These rules apply during the challenge and, apart from the profit target, on the funded account you receive after passing.
| Rule | 1-Step challenge |
|---|---|
| Evaluation phases | One |
| Profit target | 10% |
| Daily loss limit | 5%, reset at 5:00 PM New York time |
| Maximum drawdown | 6% static, on closed balance |
| Time limit | None |
| Minimum trading days | None |
| Inactivity | Breached after 30 days with no trading |
| Weekend holding | Allowed |
| Expert advisors | Allowed, within the prohibited trading rules |
| Profit split | 80%, or 90% with the add-on |
| Platforms | cTrader, DXtrade, MatchTrader, PropX |
The daily loss limit is 5% of the previous day's closing balance or equity at the reset, whichever is higher.
1-Step Account Sizes, Fees and Limits
Every 1-Step account uses the same percentages, so the dollar amounts scale with the account size. Fees are one-off and in US dollars.
| Account size | Challenge fee | Profit target | Daily loss limit | Drawdown floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $59 | $500 | $250 | $4,700 |
| $10,000 | $129 | $1,000 | $500 | $9,400 |
| $25,000 | $199 | $2,500 | $1,250 | $23,500 |
| $50,000 | $539 | $5,000 | $2,500 | $47,000 |
| $100,000 | $749 | $10,000 | $5,000 | $94,000 |
| $200,000 | $1,999 | $20,000 | $10,000 | $188,000 |
| $400,000 | $3,949 | $40,000 | $20,000 | $376,000 |
The daily loss limit shown is for the first day. After that it is worked out from your balance or equity at each reset. Challenge fees and add-ons are non-refundable. Choose a size and platform on the accounts page.
How the 6% Static Drawdown Works
A static drawdown does not move up as your account grows. On a $100,000 account the floor is $94,000. If you take the closed balance to $102,000, the floor stays at $94,000, so your room to the floor grows as you make profit.
The daily loss limit still applies on top. Breaking either one is a hard breach, so before each trade check how much room is left under both.
On the funded account, the floor locks at your starting balance once a payout is processed, unless you bought the Drawdown Lock Removal add-on. Our prop firm drawdown calculator works out the floor, today's limit and your room in dollars.
From Passing the 1-Step Challenge to Your First Payout
- 01
Hit the 10% Target
Reach the profit target without breaking the daily loss limit or the maximum drawdown. There is no deadline.
- 02
Verify Your Identity
You receive an email to complete KYC and sign the Trader Agreement with Prop Account, LLC.
- 03
Get Your Funded Account
Once both are done, your funded account is usually issued within 24 to 48 business hours, with the same rules and no profit target.
- 04
Request a Payout
Request your first withdrawal whenever you like, then once every 30 days from your trader dashboard.
1-Step Payouts and Profit Split
Your first withdrawal from a funded account can be requested at any time, then once every 30 days from your trader dashboard. There is no minimum withdrawal on 1-Step accounts. You can request a withdrawal of up to 100% of the profit in the account. You receive your profit split of what you withdraw, 80% as standard or 90% with the Profit Split Upgrade add-on. Requesting the full profit is a hard breach: it is allowed, but not recommended unless you have the Remove Lock on Payout add-on.
When a payout is approved, River Valley Capital takes its share at the same time, and your maximum drawdown locks at the starting balance unless you bought the Drawdown Lock Removal add-on. You may request the full amount, but a small buffer above the floor can be lost in one bad day. The prop firm payout calculator shows a recommended amount that keeps at least one full day's loss limit in hand.
Is the 1-Step Challenge Right for You?
Why Traders Choose 1-Step
There is only one target to reach, so a trader who is consistent can get to a funded account in a single evaluation. There is no time limit, so you can wait for the setups your strategy needs.
What to Weigh Up
The 10% target is higher than either 2-Step phase, and the 6% drawdown is tighter than the 2-Step's 8%. If you want more room for losing runs, compare the 2-Step challenge. If you would rather skip the evaluation, see Instant Funding.
Trading Rules That Apply on Every Account
You can trade forex pairs and CFDs on indices, commodities, metals and cryptocurrencies streamed by the liquidity provider.
| Market | Maximum leverage |
|---|---|
| Forex | 50:1 |
| Gold (XAUUSD) | 10:1 |
| Silver and other metals | 5:1 |
| Indices | 10:1 |
| Oil | 1:1 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 2:1 |
News Events
Opening a position within 3 minutes before or after a news event is not allowed. A trade opened in that window can be closed with its profit or loss removed, the account's leverage can be reduced, or the account can be breached.
Prohibited Trading
Strategies that exploit pricing errors or latency, use insider information, front-run trades, use an off-the-shelf strategy sold to pass challenges, or switch to a different strategy once funded are not allowed. Neither is gambling, such as using maximum leverage to try to hit a target on one price move. Copy trading is allowed only between accounts you own.
Hard and Soft Breaches
Breaking the daily loss limit or the maximum drawdown is a hard breach: the account is closed, and any gains in a funded account are lost unless you bought the Payout Protector add-on. A soft breach closes only the trades that broke a rule, and you can keep trading.
Inactivity
An account with no trading activity for 30 days in a row is treated as inactive and breached.
1-Step Challenge Questions
Is there a time limit on the 1-Step challenge?
No. There is no time limit and no minimum number of trading days. Your account is only breached for inactivity if you do not trade for 30 days in a row.
Can I hold trades over the weekend?
Yes. Weekend holding is allowed on 1-Step accounts.
Can I use an expert advisor?
Yes. Automated strategies are allowed, as long as they do not fall under prohibited trading, such as an off-the-shelf strategy sold to pass challenges.
How many 1-Step challenges can I run at once?
There is one limit, the Maximum Allocation Limit: the combined value of all your active accounts, assessment and funded together, may not exceed $1 million. Within that you can hold any mix of plans at the same time, including Instant, 1-Step and 2-Step. For example, a 1-Step $50,000 plan alongside a 2-Step $50,000 plan.
What happens if I break a rule on the funded account?
Breaking the daily loss limit or the maximum drawdown closes the account, and any gains in it are lost unless you bought the Payout Protector add-on.
Is the challenge fee refundable?
No. Challenge fees and add-ons are non-refundable.
Start Your 1-Step Challenge
Pick an account size and platform, check the add-ons, and trade one phase to a funded account.