TradeDay Day One Payouts: How to Withdraw Immediately

Written by Paul

Published on

January 14, 2026

TradeDay allows funded traders to withdraw profits from day one after clearing the buffer zone—there's no mandatory 14-day waiting period, no first-withdrawal restrictions, and no minimum account age requirement before accessing your earnings. The moment your account balance exceeds starting balance plus max drawdown (the "buffer"), you can submit withdrawal requests immediately. Submit before 5:30 PM CT and your payout processes within 24 business hours.

However, "day one payouts" doesn't mean you withdraw on Day 1 of getting funded. It means you can withdraw as soon as you've cleared the buffer mathematically, which typically takes 3-10 trading days for most funded traders. On a $50K account with $2,000 drawdown, your buffer sits at $52,000—once your balance hits $52,001, you're eligible to request withdrawal of profits above $52K immediately. No waiting periods, no arbitrary lockup timelines.

The buffer zone exists to protect TradeDay's risk management. Your starting balance ($50K) plus max drawdown ($2K) = $52K buffer. This ensures your account has enough cushion above max drawdown violation threshold before allowing profit withdrawals. Once cleared, withdrawals process through Riseworks platform with multiple payout methods: free US bank wire, $15 international wire, or crypto (L2 free, L1 $2.50 + gas fees).

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with TradeDay and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check TradeDay´s website or their faq page.

Understanding "Day One Payouts"

The phrase "day one payouts" is marketing terminology meaning "no artificial waiting periods"—not literal Day 1 of funded status.

What It Actually Means:

"Day one" = The first day you CLEAR THE BUFFER, not the first day you're funded.

Most prop firms impose mandatory waiting periods:

14-day minimum before first withdrawal (common)
30-day lockup on initial profits (some firms)
First payout only after completing monthly cycle

TradeDay eliminates these arbitrary restrictions. The only requirement is clearing buffer zone mathematically—no calendar-based delays.

Timeline Example:

Day 1 (Funded Sim activation): Balance $50,000, buffer at $52,000
Days 1-5: Trade conservatively, up $800 → Balance $50,800 (still below buffer)
Days 6-8: Strong trading, up $1,500 more → Balance $52,300 (cleared buffer by $300)
Day 8, 3:00 PM: Submit withdrawal request for $300
Day 9, 11:00 AM: TradeDay processes payout
Day 9, 2:00 PM: Receive Riseworks email to withdraw funds
Day 10: Funds in bank account

Total time from funding to money in bank: 9-10 days. "Day one" refers to Day 8 when buffer cleared, not Day 1 when account activated.

The Buffer Zone Requirement

The buffer is the safety cushion between your current balance and maximum drawdown threshold. It's calculated as:

Buffer Zone = Starting Balance + Max Drawdown Amount

Buffer Calculations by Account:

$50K EOD with $2K drawdown:
Starting: $50,000
Max drawdown: $2,000
Buffer zone: $52,000
First withdrawal eligible: When balance reaches $52,001+

$100K Intraday with $3K drawdown:
Starting: $100,000
Max drawdown: $3,000
Buffer zone: $103,000
First withdrawal eligible: When balance reaches $103,001+

$150K Static with $500 drawdown:
Starting: $150,000
Max drawdown: $500
Buffer zone: $150,500
First withdrawal eligible: When balance reaches $150,501+

Why Buffer Exists:

TradeDay needs protection against traders immediately withdrawing profits then violating accounts. If you made $3K profit on $50K account, withdrew all $3K, and then had a $2K losing day, your balance would drop to $48K—violating the $50K floor. The buffer prevents this scenario by requiring you to maintain enough cushion above drawdown before accessing profits.

Account Size	Max Drawdown	Buffer Zone	First Withdrawal Available At
$50K EOD	$2,000	$52,000	Balance ≥ $52,001
$50K Intraday	$2,500	$52,500	Balance ≥ $52,501
$100K EOD	$3,000	$103,000	Balance ≥ $103,001
$150K EOD	$4,500	$154,500	Balance ≥ $154,501

How to Submit First Withdrawal

Once buffer is cleared, requesting withdrawal takes 30 seconds through TradeDay dashboard.

Step-by-Step First Withdrawal:

Check Eligibility: Log into members.tradeday.com → Dashboard shows current balance and buffer status. If balance > buffer, "Request Withdrawal" button appears top-right.
Click Request Withdrawal: Button only visible when eligible. If button missing, you haven't cleared buffer yet.
Enter Amount: Pop-up asks withdrawal amount. Enter desired dollar amount. System shows your profit split (80/90/95% depending on lifetime withdrawal tier) and net payout after split.
Confirm Request: Click Submit. Confirmation message: "Withdrawal request received."
Wait for Processing: TradeDay processes within 24 hours if submitted before 5:30 PM CT (next business day if after 5:30 PM or on weekends).
Receive Riseworks Email: When processed, email from Riseworks: "Funds available for withdrawal." Includes login link.
Withdraw via Riseworks: Log into Riseworks account, select withdrawal method (bank wire or crypto), complete transfer.

Common First-Timer Mistakes:

Requesting withdrawal INTO buffer zone without understanding 50/50 split penalty. If balance is $52,300 and you request $500 withdrawal, first $300 is 80/20 split (you get $240), but $200 that dips into buffer is 50/50 (you get $100). Total: $340 instead of expected $400.

Better strategy for first withdrawal: Request only amount ABOVE buffer to maximize your split. Once you've grown account further and have larger cushion, you can afford to dip into buffer.

Profit Split Calculations

Your payout isn't the full withdrawal amount—TradeDay takes profit share based on lifetime withdrawal tier.

Tier Structure:

First $50K lifetime withdrawn: 80% yours, 20% TradeDay's
$50K-$100K lifetime: 90% yours, 10% TradeDay's
$100K+ lifetime: 95% yours, 5% TradeDay's

First Withdrawal Examples:

Scenario A (Above Buffer):

Balance: $53,000
Buffer: $52,000
Profit above buffer: $1,000
Withdrawal request: $800
Your tier: 80% (first funded account, $0 withdrawn lifetime)
Your payout: $800 × 80% = $640
TradeDay's share: $160
New balance: $52,200 (still above buffer)

Scenario B (Into Buffer):

Balance: $52,500
Buffer: $52,000
Profit above buffer: $500
Withdrawal request: $1,000 (dips $500 into buffer)
Split calculation:

First $500 (above buffer): $500 × 80% = $400 yours
Next $500 (into buffer): $500 × 50% = $250 yours
Total payout: $650
TradeDay's total share: $350
New balance: $51,500 (now IN buffer zone)

Scenario B results in significantly worse split. Avoid withdrawing into buffer unless absolutely necessary or account has grown enough that buffer dip is negligible percentage.

Processing Timeline

5:30 PM CT Cutoff:

Requests submitted before 5:30 PM CT process next business day. Requests after 5:30 PM process in two business days.

Monday 3:00 PM request → Processes Tuesday
Monday 6:00 PM request → Processes Wednesday
Friday 2:00 PM request → Processes Monday
Friday 6:00 PM request → Processes Tuesday

Full Timeline Breakdown:

Day 1, 2:00 PM CT: Submit $500 withdrawal request (balance $52,500, buffer $52,000)
Day 1, 2:05 PM: Confirmation email from TradeDay
Day 2, 10:00 AM: TradeDay processes, moves funds to Riseworks
Day 2, 11:30 AM: Riseworks email: "Funds available"
Day 2, 12:00 PM: Log into Riseworks, initiate bank wire
Day 3-7: Bank processes wire (3-5 business days typical, up to 7 for international)
Day 5: Funds arrive in bank account

Total time: 4-5 days from request to bank account for US wires, 6-8 days for international.

Crypto Payouts (Faster):

Layer 2 (L2) crypto withdrawals via Riseworks process within hours after TradeDay approval:

Day 1, 2:00 PM: Submit request
Day 2, 11:30 AM: Riseworks notification
Day 2, 12:00 PM: Select L2 crypto withdrawal
Day 2, 12:15 PM: Funds in crypto wallet

Total time: ~24 hours from request to wallet.

Strategic First Withdrawal Timing

When should you take first withdrawal? Depends on your goals and risk tolerance.

Conservative Approach (Wait for Large Buffer):

Don't withdraw until balance is $54K+ on $50K account (buffer $52K). This gives $2K cushion above buffer, protecting against drawdowns after withdrawal.

Pros: Maximum safety, large cushion remains
Cons: Slower access to profits, higher unrealized P&L at risk

Moderate Approach (Withdraw at Buffer + $500-1000):

Withdraw when balance hits $52,500-53,000 on $50K account. Keeps reasonable cushion while accessing profits relatively quickly.

Pros: Balance of safety and profit access
Cons: Less cushion than conservative, but acceptable

Aggressive Approach (Withdraw Immediately at Buffer):

Withdraw the moment balance exceeds buffer by even $100.

Pros: Fastest profit access, locks in gains immediately
Cons: Leaves minimal cushion, one bad trade could hit drawdown

Recommended Strategy:

Most successful traders withdraw at buffer + $800-1,200 first time, then establish regular withdrawal rhythm every $1,500-2,500 in additional profits. This locks in gains regularly while maintaining healthy buffer cushion.

Common Day One Payout Questions

"Can I withdraw on my first trading day as funded trader?"

Technically yes IF you cleared buffer on Day 1, but this is nearly impossible. You'd need to make $2,000+ profit ($50K account) in one day during evaluation, pass, activate funded account, and that same day make another trade to push balance above $52K. Realistically, first withdrawal happens 5-15 days after funding activation.

"What if I'm not showing withdrawal button?"

Balance hasn't cleared buffer yet. Check dashboard—it shows current balance and buffer requirement. Keep trading profitably until balance exceeds buffer, then button appears automatically.

"Can I withdraw while having open positions?"

Yes, but balance calculation includes unrealized P&L. If you have open positions showing +$300 unrealized, that counts toward your balance for buffer calculation. However, if those positions move against you before withdrawal processes, you might fall below buffer and request could be rejected.

Safer: Close all positions, ensure realized balance is above buffer, THEN request withdrawal.

"Do I need minimum account age before withdrawing?"

No. TradeDay has zero calendar-based restrictions. Pass evaluation, clear buffer same week, withdraw immediately—allowed.

"Can I withdraw partial amounts multiple times?"

Yes. Unlimited withdrawal frequency. Withdraw $300 Monday, $500 Wednesday, $700 Friday—all allowed as long as balance stays above buffer after each withdrawal.

FAQ

When exactly can I make my first TradeDay withdrawal?

The moment your account balance exceeds starting balance + max drawdown (buffer zone). For $50K EOD account, that's $52,000. Once balance hits $52,001+, you can withdraw immediately.

Is there a waiting period before first payout?

No calendar-based waiting period. The only "wait" is accumulating enough profit to clear the buffer zone mathematically.

How long from withdrawal request to money in bank?

24 hours for TradeDay processing + 3-7 days for bank wire = 4-8 days total. Crypto payouts arrive within 24-48 hours total.

Can I withdraw before clearing buffer?

No. Withdrawal button won't appear until balance exceeds buffer. Attempting to withdraw before clearing buffer is impossible—system blocks it.

What happens if I withdraw too much and fall below buffer?

If withdrawal drops balance below buffer, you're technically "in the buffer zone" but account doesn't violate. However, future withdrawals FROM buffer zone incur 50/50 split penalty instead of 80/20.

Do I pay fees on first withdrawal?

US bank wires: $0. International wires: $15. L2 crypto: $0. L1 crypto: $2.50 + gas fees.

Can I request withdrawal same day I clear buffer?

Yes. Clear buffer at 11 AM, request withdrawal at 11:05 AM—perfectly fine.

What if my first withdrawal request gets denied?

Contact support@tradeday.com. Denials only happen if: balance actually below buffer (calculation error on your part), pending compliance issues, or technical errors. Legitimate requests above buffer are never denied.

Should I withdraw frequently or let profits compound?

Depends on goals. Frequent small withdrawals ($500-1,000) lock in gains and reduce at-risk capital. Larger less-frequent withdrawals ($2,000-5,000) let profits compound but increase unrealized P&L exposure. Most traders find $1,500-2,500 withdrawal rhythm optimal.