Quote from traderstatus:
The idea to avoid the high professional subscriber fees, is to arrange your situation to qualify as a non-professional, which for many on-line traders / unlicensed proprietary traders is not all that difficult if given some creative thought.
=====================
Classification of a Non-Professional Subscriber is any natural person who is not registered or qualified with:
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
The Commodities Futures Trading Commission
Any state securities agency
Any securities exchange or association
Any commodities or futures contract market or association
A Non-Professional Subscriber is also any natural person who is
not:
Engaged as an "investment advisor" definition consistent with Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisor's Act of 1940
Employed by a bank or other organization exempt from registration under Federal and/or state securities laws
If you do not qualify as a Non-Professional Subscriber, then you are a Professional Subscriber.