Most prop firm evaluations aren't failed by a bad strategy. They're failed by one bad day: a revenge trade after a stop-out, a position that's too big, or getting caught in a news spike. An automated strategy removes most of those mistakes because it takes the same setup at the same size every time.
Step 1: Read your firm's automation rules
Firms update their rules often. Before you turn on any bot, check whether automated strategies are allowed on both evaluation and funded accounts, and whether there are limits during news releases.
Step 2: Match the bot's limits to the firm's limits
Set the bot's daily loss limit below your firm's daily loss limit, with a buffer for slippage. If your firm allows a $1,000 daily loss, set the bot to stop around $700 to $800.
| Market | Tick size | Value per tick | Value per point |
|---|---|---|---|
| MNQ (Micro Nasdaq) | 0.25 | $0.50 | $2.00 |
| MES (Micro S&P 500) | 0.25 | $1.25 | $5.00 |
| MGC (Micro Gold) | 0.10 | $1.00 | $10.00 |
| MCL (Micro Crude) | 0.01 | $1.00 | $100.00 |
Use this table to turn a stop in points into dollars before you choose your size.
Step 3: Use micros and keep size small
Trailing drawdown punishes big swings. Micro contracts let a bot use a stop with real room without risking the account on one trade.
Step 4: Never hedge across related markets
Running a long on MNQ and a short on MES at the same time is treated as hedging by most firms and can get accounts closed. Run one direction per correlated group.
Step 5: Run it on a VPS
A bot only manages a trade while NinjaTrader is connected. A VPS near Chicago keeps the connection stable and latency low.
The bottom line
A bot won't make a bad strategy good, but it will stop you from breaking your own rules. Test on Sim first, size small, and keep the bot's limits inside your firm's limits.