# Trading rules: every limit in one table

> StarTrading has twelve rules and every one of them is published with its amounts. Only the Max Loss Limit fails an account. The Daily Loss Limit pauses a day, the consistency rule delays a payout, flat time closes positions. Each rule has its own page with worked examples per account type and size.

Source: https://startrading.io/rules · Updated 2026-09-08

The twelve rules and what each one does

| Rule | In one line |
| --- | --- |
| [Max Loss Limit](https://startrading.io/rules/max-loss-limit) | Trailing drawdown, computed at end of day, locks at starting balance + $100. The only rule that fails an account. |
| [Daily Loss Limit](https://startrading.io/rules/daily-loss-limit) | Soft limit: positions closed and trading paused until the next session. Never fails the account by itself. |
| [Consistency rule](https://startrading.io/rules/consistency-rule) | Largest day ≤ 40% (Cycle funded), 50% (Clear and Stream evaluation), 20% (Direct) of the cycle profit. Never fails an account. |
| [Buffer](https://startrading.io/rules/buffer) | Cycle and Stream: starting balance + Max Loss Limit + $100 stays in the account before payouts. None on Clear and Direct. |
| [News trading](https://startrading.io/rules/news-trading) | Allowed on every account, including evaluations. Funded Stream accounts: flat one minute before and after red-folder releases. |
| [Flat time on Rithmic and Tradovate](https://startrading.io/rules/flat-time) | Flat by 4:15 pm ET (Rithmic) or 4:45 pm ET (Tradovate). Auto-close, no failure. Reopens 6:00 pm ET Sunday to Thursday. |
| [Payout policy](https://startrading.io/rules/payout-policy) | 90% to the trader, $500 minimum, no window, wire in 2 business days. Caps depend on the account type. |
| [Live program](https://startrading.io/rules/live-program) | After 5 sim payouts: Live account from $0 with a starting drawdown by size, no DLL, no consistency, daily payouts, one-time Live Bonus. |
| [Scaling](https://startrading.io/rules/scaling) | Max position 2/4/6/10 minis (micros ×10). Funded DLL scales to 60% of the best closed day and never comes down. |
| [Prohibited practices](https://startrading.io/rules/prohibited-practices) | HFT, hedging (including across accounts, permanent ban) and micro-scalping (> 50% of profit from trades ≤ 5 seconds). |
| [Copy trading](https://startrading.io/rules/copy-trading) | Allowed across your accounts and from external signals. Same direction only: opposite positions across accounts are hedging. |
| [Bots and algos](https://startrading.io/rules/bots-and-algos) | Allowed on every account. No HFT. Bots must respect flat time, position limits and funded-Stream news windows. |

## What applies to every account?

- Flat by the platform's flat time on weekdays: positions are closed automatically, the account is not failed. Markets reopen at 6:00 pm ET Sunday to Thursday.
- Trading through NFP, FOMC and CPI is allowed, except on funded Stream accounts.
- Bots and trade copiers are allowed. High-frequency trading is not. Hedging, including across accounts, is a permanent ban.
- Scalping is allowed. If more than half of your profit comes from trades held five seconds or less, the account is flagged.
- The Max Loss Limit trails at end of day on every account, except funded Stream accounts, where it trails intraday.
- The Daily Loss Limit is soft: it pauses trading until the next session and never fails the account on its own.
- One fee. No subscription, no time limit, no activation fee. Funded accounts activate 5 to 30 minutes after the target is reached.

## Where do the rules differ?

The account type sets how the rules combine: daily limit or not, consistency or not, buffer or not, payouts by cycle or every day.

- [Cycle](https://startrading.io/accounts/cycle): Structured evaluation, end-of-day trailing drawdown, payouts by cycle.
- [Clear](https://startrading.io/accounts/clear): No consistency rule and no buffer once funded, payouts from five profitable days.
- [Stream](https://startrading.io/accounts/stream): Daily payouts, intraday trailing drawdown, risk you configure at checkout.
- [Direct](https://startrading.io/accounts/direct): Funded from day one, no evaluation, 20% consistency rule.