Prop Firm Reset Fees: When They Make Sense and When They Don’t
Reset fees are one of the biggest revenue streams for prop firms. When you blow an evaluation, they give you the option to “reset” the account for a discounted price instead of buying a brand-new evaluation. Sometimes it’s worth it. Sometimes it’s a complete waste of money. The key is knowing the difference.
What a Reset Fee Actually Does
A reset fee does exactly three things:
- Resets your account balance back to the starting balance
- Resets your trailing drawdown and daily loss limit
- Clears your win/loss stats for the evaluation
It does not change your account size, payout structure, or evaluation rules. This isn’t a shortcut. You’re simply getting a clean slate.
When a Reset Is Worth Paying For
1. You were close to your profit target
If you were within 10–20% of the goal, a reset is usually cheaper and faster than starting over. For example:
- Profit target: $3,000
- You’re at $2,500
- You accidentally breach a rule
Paying a $40–$80 reset is smarter than buying another full-price evaluation.
2. Your trading was consistent and stable
If you traded clean but made one mistake—like violating max lot size rules or forgetting to close a bracket on Friday—resetting might be worth it.
3. The firm is running a discount
During sale periods, reset fees often drop 30–80%. If eval resets are cheap, resetting becomes the obvious option.
When You Should NOT Pay for a Reset
1. You blew the account because of bad discipline
If you violated:
- Daily loss limit
- Trailing drawdown
- Consistency rules
a reset will not magically fix the underlying issue. You’ll just blow it again.
2. You were nowhere near the profit target
If you’re down big, or still early in the evaluation, buying a fresh account is usually smarter.
3. You blew the account on day one
If you violate on day one, paying a reset is the worst move. Just start fresh. Don’t double down on a terrible start.
4. You need to change account size
If you realize your account is too big or too small, resetting does nothing. Buy a new evaluation with the size you actually want.
Cost Comparison: Reset vs New Evaluation
| Option | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Reset Fee | $40–$90 | Close to target or clean mistake |
| New Evaluation | $70–$200 | Bad performance or early-stage blowout |
The reset looks cheaper, but only if you were making real progress.
How Firms Use Reset Fees to Make Money
Prop firms know most traders fail evaluations multiple times. Reset fees are designed to:
- Reduce friction for traders to try again
- Keep traders emotionally invested
- Encourage repeat attempts
They don’t mind giving you a discount because statistically, most traders will buy more than one.
Final Takeaway
Reset fees are useful only when you made real progress and simply messed up. If your trading was sloppy, inconsistent, or nowhere near the goal, paying for a reset is just burning money. Be honest with yourself and choose the option that gives you the best chance of passing, not the one that feeds frustration.