Pilot Review

Tuesday, June 17th

2025 Bookkeeping Service Reviews

Pilot

• Pricing starts at $259/month
• Personal team of US-based expert bookkeepers who provide dedicated support and oversight
• Built on QuickBooks Online for seamless integration with tax preparers and financial professionals
• Accrual-based bookkeeping from day one to support business growth
• User-friendly online portal for clear communication and financial visibility
• Comprehensive monthly reporting including P&L and balance sheets
• Optional add-on services including CFO advisory, tax services, and stock administration
• Automated categorization and vendor identification capabilities
• Data portability: all financial information remains accessible in standard QuickBooks format
• Proven track record with notable clients like OpenAI, Airtable, and Scale

You're in good hands with Pilot, who claim the title of largest startup and small business accounting firm in the US. With a team of over 250 US-based experts (including accountants, CFOs, and tax specialists), they'll handle your bookkeeping with precision while you focus on growing your business. Whether you're a two-person startup or a hundred-person team, they've got you covered - in fact, they've helped companies like OpenAI, Airtable, and Scale grow from their earliest days. And since they use QuickBooks Online, you'll have the freedom to work with any tax preparer, financial professional, or venture capitalist you choose. (Plus, if you ever decide to part ways, your data goes with you in a format that's immediately useful.)

You get a personal team of expert bookkeepers, not just another software tool

Pilot offers you more than just automated bookkeeping. Their team takes time to understand your business inside and out, working closely with you to ensure your books are squeaky-clean and support informed decision-making. Through their user-friendly portal, you'll have clear, organized communication with your bookkeeper and quick access to timely responses.

The onboarding process trades consistency for thoroughness

When you sign up, you'll pay a one-time onboarding fee equal to one month of bookkeeping. During this phase, your dedicated team connects to your financial data sources and establishes a tailored approach to your bookkeeping needs. While some users note the process involves multiple hand-offs that can feel inconsistent, others appreciate how thorough the setup is - and most agree that once you're matched with your long-term bookkeeper, everything runs smoothly.

Pricing model that scales with your business using accrual-based bookkeeping

Your monthly pricing is determined by your expense volume, with a slider that lets you estimate costs from $0 up to $200,000. Unlike basic cash-based bookkeeping that only tracks when money moves in and out of accounts, Pilot uses accrual-based bookkeeping from day one: recording when money is earned or owed. This more sophisticated approach means no painful transitions as your business grows. For a business with $50,000 in monthly expenses as an example, here are the options:

• Essentials ($259/month): Perfect for small businesses seeking the basics. You'll get real-time financial visibility, monthly P&L and balance sheets, a year-end tax package, and support from a US-based team via app and email.
• Core ($669/month): Ideal if you're making data-driven decisions. Beyond the essentials, you'll get enriched reporting from all your tools, faster monthly closing (by the 10th business day), and expanded support options including phone access.
• Custom (pricing varies): Best for those needing a complete back-office solution. This flexible tier includes everything from Core plus optional add-ons like tax planning, payroll, vendor payments, stock administration, and even CFO advisory services. You'll get comprehensive support through every channel, including Slack for CFO advisory customers.

Looking for full-service financial support?

While Pilot's core focus is bookkeeping, they also offer CFO services at three tiers to help grow your business. Their Basic CFO plan at $1,750/month provides business performance analysis, while the Essential tier ($3,150/month) helps initiate strategic projects. For companies needing deep financial leadership, their Custom plan ($5,250/month) offers comprehensive CFO integration.

Tax services that scale with your needs

On the tax front, you've got options starting at $750/year for small businesses spending under $500k annually, which covers your federal and state filings. Their Essentials plan at $2,450/year adds Delaware Franchise tax filing and 1099-NEC support, while their Standard plan ($5,400/year) increases your 1099-NEC filing capacity and is perfect for growing or profitable businesses of any type.

A consistently responsive, high-rated service that users love

Pilot earns impressive ratings averaging between 4.0 and 4.9 across independent review platforms, with clients particularly praising their responsive, professional team. As one finance professional noted, "Whenever I post questions in our Pilot portal, I hear back quickly, typically within one day".

Combines powerful automation with human expertise

Pilot seamlessly integrates with dozens of tools and financial institutions, automatically categorizing items and identifying new vendors. One client highlighted how Pilot's automation "always reminds us what we should do for the next step and the deadline for the tasks", helping you stay on top of your financial responsibilities without the stress. You can also expect a high level of human attention to be paid to your books. According to one particularly glowing review, their team's expertise shines through in handling "very novel & sometimes tricky situations in bookkeeping/accounting." Pilot's online portal gets its flowers for being user-friendly and presenting financials more effectively than QuickBooks.

Our highest recommendation for any business that's ready to invest in growth

If you're serious about building a business that scales, Pilot is our top recommendation for bookkeeping services. Their expert team delivers accrual-based bookkeeping from day one, backed by QuickBooks integration and excellent support. While the onboarding process isn't perfect, the quality of service more than makes up for it - especially at a competitive starting price of $259/month for small businesses. What truly sets Pilot apart is its ability to grow with you, offering everything from basic bookkeeping to comprehensive CFO services. (And with clients like OpenAI and Airtable, they've proven they can handle that journey.) Whether you're a small startup or a scaling business, Pilot offers the sophisticated financial partnership you need.