Pilot
Pilot
What We Like
Pilot gives growing businesses room to expand without immediately replacing their accounting provider. A company can start with bookkeeping and add tax, CFO, accounts payable/accounts receivable, payroll administration, and other financial operations support as its needs become more complex.
We also like that Pilot separates its service levels rather than forcing every business into the same package. A small business that mainly needs clean books has a much different financial need than a startup preparing for fundraising or building forecasts, and Pilot has offerings aimed at both ends of that spectrum.
Potential Drawbacks
Pilot can become considerably more expensive as you move beyond basic bookkeeping. Businesses that need hands-on CFO support, customized reporting, or extensive back-office services should compare the total cost of the services they actually need rather than focusing only on the entry-level bookkeeping price.
Very small businesses with straightforward books may also find that they don’t need the breadth of services Pilot offers. If your primary need is basic transaction categorization and monthly financial statements, compare Pilot with simpler bookkeeping alternatives before paying for a more comprehensive solution.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
Businesses that only need inexpensive, basic bookkeeping should compare Pilot with lower-cost alternatives before deciding. You may be paying for access to a broader financial ecosystem that your business doesn’t actually need.
Companies that strongly prefer an ongoing relationship with a small local accounting firm or a specific individual accountant may also prefer a different model.
Pilot is a strong fit for businesses that expect their accounting needs to get more complicated as they grow. You may start out needing basic bookkeeping, but eventually need tax help, better reporting, forecasting, or CFO support. Having those services available through the same provider can make that growth easier. That said, if you have a simple business and only need someone to keep the books clean each month, Pilot may be more than you need.
Our advice is to look beyond Pilot’s starting price and figure out what your business would actually pay for the level of support you want. Make a list of the services you need today and what you are likely to need over the next year, then compare that total cost with a few alternatives. Pilot becomes much more compelling when you will actually use several of its services. If all you need is bookkeeping, there are simpler and potentially less expensive options worth considering.
Explore Pilot and see if it's the right fit for your needs.