A smaller-sized trading account that allows traders to trade micro contracts or micro lots, typically representing 1/10th the value of a mini contract or 1/100th of a standard contract. In futures prop trading, micro accounts trade instruments like Micro E-mini (MES, MNQ) contracts.
Why It Matters
- 1Micro accounts are ideal for new prop traders who want to start with lower risk exposure and smaller evaluation fees.
- 2Trading micro contracts means each tick and point is worth less, so drawdown limits are effectively more forgiving in dollar terms.
- 3A 10-point move on MES costs $50 versus $500 on the full ES contract.
- 4This allows traders to learn and make mistakes without catastrophic consequences while still experiencing real market conditions.
Example
- 1A $10,000 micro account evaluation costs $99 and allows trading up to 5 MES contracts.
- 2Each MES point is worth $5 (vs. $50 on ES). With a 5% daily loss limit ($500), you'd need to lose 100 points on 1 MES contract — a significant move — before hitting the limit.
- 3This gives you ample room to practice proper risk management.
Common Mistakes
- ✖Trading too many micro contracts, effectively recreating the same risk as a larger account
- ✖Treating micro accounts as unimportant because the dollar amounts are smaller
- ✖Not transitioning to larger accounts once you've built confidence and consistency