Pilot review & overview

Accrual-basis bookkeeping, tax and CFO services aimed at startups and growth companies, built on QuickBooks.

Pilot sits in the bookkeeping service space and is most often picked for startups, accrual accounting, vc-backed companies. Below is a quick, no-fluff overview to help you decide if it fits.

Key facts

Who it's for

Pilot makes most sense for startups.

• Startups
• Accrual accounting
• VC-backed companies

Key features

What you actually get with Pilot, drawn from independent reviews and the vendor's own documentation:

• Cash or accrual-basis bookkeeping with dedicated accounting team
• Monthly financial statements with fast close (by ~10th business day on Core)
• Pulls from bank, cards, payroll, AP, inventory and payment platforms
• Bill management (up to ~10 vendor bills/mo on Core)
• Tax filing, payroll and CFO advisory as add-ons

Integrations

Pilot connects with QuickBooks (built on), bank/card feeds, payroll and payment platforms and Slack.

What makes it stand out

Accrual-basis bookkeeping, tax and CFO services built for venture-backed startups, on top of QuickBooks.

Who it's best for

Startups and growth companies wanting accrual accounting and optional CFO support.

Strengths & trade-offs

The honest balance for Pilot, from independent reviews rather than its sales page. We go deeper in the full Pilot review.

Strengths

• + Accrual-basis bookkeeping suited to startups and VC reporting
• + Dedicated accounting team and fast monthly close
• + Pre-revenue startup discount on Core

Trade-offs

• - More expensive than DIY software; Core starts ~$499/mo
• - Tax and CFO services are paid add-ons
• - Cash affiliate/commission terms not publicly confirmed

Notable facts

Concrete, checkable details rather than marketing claims:

• Built on QuickBooks; specializes in venture-backed technology companies
• Offers a discount on Core for pre-revenue startups
• Tax services start from a higher monthly tier on top of bookkeeping

See Pilot alternatives →