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Guides · How a programme is built

Primer8 minHow a programme is built

One-step, two-step, and what the extra phase actually costs

A second phase is another target and another chance to breach. It is not a quality score, and it is not automatically cheaper.

Prop firms sell the number of phases as if it were a difficulty dial. It is a count of profit targets you have to hit without touching a loss rule. A two-step programme asks twice. A one-step programme asks once, and often tightens the daily loss, switches the floor from static to trailing, or adds a consistency cap to pay for the missing phase.

Compare the contract, not the badge

  • Targets
    FTMO 2-Step
    10%, then 5%
    FTMO 1-Step
    10% once
  • Daily loss
    FTMO 2-Step
    5% of initial simulated capital
    FTMO 1-Step
    3%
  • Maximum loss
    FTMO 2-Step
    10% static
    FTMO 1-Step
    10% end-of-day trailing
  • Minimum days
    FTMO 2-Step
    4 in each phase
    FTMO 1-Step
    Not stated on that page
  • Best day
    FTMO 2-Step
    50% of total profit from 12 Oct 2026
    FTMO 1-Step
    50% of total profit from 12 Oct 2026
The FTMO objectives page, captured 19 October 2026, is a clean example of the swap. Same brand. Different loss rule.

Someone who picks the one-step because it is ‘faster’ has accepted a daily line that is 40% tighter and a floor that rises. Someone who picks the two-step because it is ‘the normal one’ has accepted a second target. Neither choice is free.