How do you know when you're ready to go live?

There's no official test, so everyone invents their own. Some use demo results, some use a fixed number of trades, some just fund an account and start small.

How do you know when you're ready to go live? — moving average crossover diagram
A fast moving average crossing a slower one

What was your bar?

  • the target you set before going live
  • whether you actually met it, or just got impatient
  • what you'd tell someone who thinks they're ready now
How do you know when you're ready to go live? — risk-reward diagram
A risk-reward ratio of 1 to 2

The demo vs live guide suggests concrete criteria, but hearing real bars from real members is better.

Background: Demo vs live trading: what changes when real money is on the line

A strategy that works on a demo account can fall apart in a live one. The differences in execution and psychology, and a sensible way to make the switch.

Is demo trading the same as live trading?

No. Demo accounts can fill orders more smoothly than live markets, and losing virtual money doesn't create the same pressure as real losses, so live results are usually worse.

How long should I trade on a demo account?

There's no fixed period. A common approach is to follow a written plan for at least a few dozen trades, record them in a journal and move to live trading only with the smallest position sizes.

Read the full guide

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