# Include Credit / Bonus in Balance

When set to **No (Default)**, the EA ignores any credit/bonus and uses only **real account balance** for its calculations.\
When set to **Yes**, the EA treats the **total balance + credit/bonus** as available equity.

{% hint style="success" %}

#### **How It Works**

Many brokers offer deposit bonuses or temporary credits that increase your account balance display, but not your actual available equity once withdrawn or lost.\
The EA uses the balance value to determine **dynamic lot sizing**, **recovery levels**, and **equity-based features** like **Hard Stop**, **Custom Balance**, and **risk-based scaling**.

> ⚙️ Example:\
> If your real balance = **$1,000** and you have a **$200** bonus credit:

* When **Include Credit / Bonus = Yes**, the EA will calculate based on **$1,200**.
* When **Include Credit / Bonus = No**, the EA will calculate based on **$1,000** only.
  {% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}

#### **Why You Might Use It**

* If your broker’s **bonus or credit** behaves like real equity (e.g., Exness, RoboForex promotions).
* To **increase trading volume or lot sizing** slightly when bonus funds are available.
* When using **cent or promotional accounts** where credit is fully usable for margin.
  {% endhint %}

{% hint style="danger" %}

#### **Why You Might NOT Use It**

* Some brokers remove the bonus if equity drops, which can **instantly affect margin** and cause early stop-outs.
* Including credit may **inflate lot sizes** beyond what your real funds can safely support.
* For **prop firm accounts**, this option should always remain **No**, since they don’t use bonuses or credits.
  {% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}

#### **Important Warnings**

* Always confirm with your broker **how credit/bonus is handled** — not all credit acts as usable equity.
* If the bonus is revoked or expires mid-trade, you may face **unexpected margin calls or stop-outs**.
* Changing this setting affects **all risk and volume calculations**, so adjust carefully.
  {% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}

#### **Best Practice**

* Keep **Include Credit / Bonus = No** for most standard and prop accounts.
* Only enable it (**Yes**) if you have verified that your broker’s credit can safely support open trades and margin.
* For consistent results, avoid toggling this setting frequently between Yes/No.
* Always recheck your **lot sizing behavior** on a demo after enabling it to ensure stability.
  {% endhint %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://smartchoise.gitbook.io/smartchoise-manual/options/general-and-utility/include-credit-bonus-in-balance.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
