The Scaling Trap: How to Actually Turn $10k into $2 Million (2026 Guide)

1. The "Slow Drip" Scaling (Standard)

Most firms (like FTMO) offer a 25% increase every 4 months.

• Start: $100k.
• Year 1: Grows to ~$175k.
• Verdict: Safe, but slow. It takes years to reach millions.

2. The "Hyper Growth" Model (Aggressive)

Some firms offer a 100% increase (Doubling) for every 10% profit target hit.

• Start: $10k.
• Stage 1 (10% Gain): Account becomes $20k.
• Stage 2 (10% Gain): Account becomes $40k.
• Stage 6: Account becomes $320k.
• Verdict: Exponential growth. You can turn a small fee into institutional capital in under a year.

3. The Hidden Risk: Drawdown Scaling

When your account scales, does your drawdown scale?

• Bad: Account doubles to $20k, but Max Loss stays fixed at $1k (relative % drops).
• Good: Account doubles to $20k, Max Loss doubles to $2k.

Always check the Drawdown Logic before committing to a scaling plan.

Recommendation: The5ers

In 2026, The5ers remains the king of scaling with their "High Stakes" and "Hyper Growth" programs. They explicitly offer a clear path to $4 Million funding. Unlike others, they pay you *while* you scale.

Your Roadmap to $1M

1. Start with a small, affordable account ($5k or $10k).
2. Focus on consistency, not huge wins.
3. Let the scaling plan do the heavy lifting.

View The5ers in our Prop Comparison Table to see how their scaling rules compare to industry standards.