Part of our prop firm guide series. Start with What is a Prop Firm? (2026 complete guide), then explore: are prop firms legit?, how prop firms work, prop firm vs broker, trading evaluation, simulated funds, performance fee, qualified trader, drawdown types, prop firm red flags, choose by trading style, evaluation cost, realistic performance fees, copy trading UK, Alpha Capital login, ACG vs ACG Markets, evaluation attempts, prop firm comparisons hub, pass without rebuilding strategy, why traders fail evaluations, evaluation fee & refund policy.
TL;DR: Most performance fee delays are operational, not random. Alpha Capital targets processing within 2 business days once eligibility is met — but bi-weekly vs on-demand rules, open trades, consistency thresholds, and post-breach adjustments commonly block or postpone requests. Use the pre-request checklist below and verify live rules on the help centre.
Many traders assume delayed performance fees mean something is wrong with the whole account.
In most cases, delays happen because one eligibility condition or process step was missed.
This guide breaks down the most common causes using Alpha Capital Help Center rules and gives you a pre-request checklist.
Related reading: What is a performance fee? · Realistic performance fees · Bi-weekly rules · On-demand rules
General information only. Simulated accounts, simulated funds. Performance fees are performance-based; outcomes not guaranteed.
Performance fee terminology
Delay troubleshooting is easier when you use Alpha Capital's official terms instead of forum slang:
- Performance fee = payout, profit split, withdrawal request — see performance fee
- Bi-weekly method = fixed ~14-day cadence with trading-day and profit thresholds
- On-demand method = request when eligible, often with a best-day consistency rule
- Consistency rule = no single day may represent too large a share of window profits (on-demand)
- Qualified Analyst = stage where performance fees apply — see qualified trader
- Simulated funds = all Alpha Capital accounts trade on virtual capital — see simulated funds
What to know first:
Alpha Capital states that performance fee requests are processed within 2 business days once submitted correctly and once eligibility conditions are met.
Delays usually come from:
- Eligibility method mismatch (bi-weekly vs on-demand)
- Trading-day or consistency requirements not met
- Open trades at request time
- Rule-breach adjustments inside the payout window
- Incorrect payout setup details
Source: How do I get paid performance fees?
Bi-weekly vs on-demand: different eligibility logic
One of the biggest sources of confusion is mixing requirements from different methods.
Method | Core requirements | Official page |
|---|---|---|
Bi-weekly | 14-day cadence, minimum profit threshold, first request needs minimum trading days | |
On-demand | Minimum gross profit threshold + 40% best day consistency rule |
If your account is configured for one method, the other method is not available at the same time.
Top delay causes and fixes
Delay cause | What it looks like | How to prevent it |
|---|---|---|
Trades still open | Request submitted but account not ready for reset flow | Close all trades before requesting |
Wrong eligibility method assumption | Trader expects on-demand conditions on a bi-weekly account | Confirm method in dashboard first |
Trading-day requirement not met | First request rejected on bi-weekly path | Track valid trading days early |
Consistency rule not met | On-demand request fails due to best day concentration | Build total profits so best day is below threshold |
Post-breach adjustment | Request value reduced or postponed after review | Re-check account state after any rule event |
Missing request details | Operational back-and-forth | Use dashboard request path and complete all fields |
What the 40% best day rule means in practice
For on-demand requests, no single trading day should represent 40% or more of total generated profits in the active payout window.
Simple calculation:
Best day net profit / Total net profit in window
If result is 0.40 or above, the account is not yet eligible for that request.
Official details and examples: Performance fee on-demand
Common misunderstanding: partial withdrawals and consistency
On on-demand accounts, partial withdrawals can reset consistency display behavior, and a new trade can open a new payout consistency window.
That means the remaining amount can become conditional on the new window's consistency requirements once new trades are taken.
If this part is unclear, use the official examples here: On-demand consistency examples
Pre-request checklist (copy this)
Before submitting any performance fee request:
- Confirm your method: bi-weekly or on-demand
- Confirm eligibility thresholds for your method
- Confirm all trades are closed
- Confirm no unresolved rule event in the current payout window
- Confirm payout details are correct
- Submit through dashboard Payout and Achievements
- Wait through stated processing window before escalating
Primary source: How do I get paid performance fees?
Escalation path if request still looks wrong
If you believe the request is valid and still delayed beyond the stated processing window:
- Re-open your dashboard metrics and re-check current eligibility values
- Re-check your selected method rules page
- Contact support with:
- account ID
- request timestamp
- method type
- current eligibility screenshots
Clear evidence shortens support resolution time.
Related pages
- How do I get paid performance fees?
- Performance fee bi-weekly
- Performance fee on-demand
- Alpha Capital rules explained
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Alpha Capital take to process performance fee requests?
Help Center states processing and payment within 2 business days for valid requests. See official article for current wording and examples.
Why was my request rejected if I made profits?
Profit alone is not enough. Method-specific rules must be met, including trading-day or consistency conditions depending on your selected method.
Do open trades matter when requesting a performance fee?
Yes. Help Center states all trades should be closed when making a request.
Can I switch freely between bi-weekly and on-demand?
No. The methods are distinct. Each has separate requirements and availability conditions.
What is the most common on-demand mistake?
Ignoring the best-day concentration rule and requesting before total window profits are high enough to meet consistency.
What happens if profits are adjusted after a rule breach review?
Adjusted balances can change consistency and payout eligibility. Re-check dashboard values before submitting again.
Author: Alpha Capital Research Team · Updated: June 17, 2026 · Related: Prop firm guide · Performance fee · Realistic performance fees
Alpha Capital Group is a proprietary trading firm based in the United Kingdom. Accounts operate in a simulated environment with simulated funds. Performance fees are performance-based and outcomes are not guaranteed. Always verify live rules and help-center criteria before submitting requests.
