Pilot is an accounting and bookkeeping service for startups and growing businesses that uses a combination of AI-powered software and human accountants to deliver monthly bookkeeping, tax preparation, and CFO advisory services. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Pilot serves over 1,000 companies including many Y Combinator alumni — providing the financial clarity startups need without hiring full-time accountants. It integrates with QuickBooks, Stripe, and other financial tools for automated data collection.
Bookkeeping and financial services for startups.
Best for: Startups who want a complete outsourced finance team — bookkeeping, taxes and CFO services — at a fraction of in-house cost.
- $499 / month
4.5/5 ratingEditorial score 87/100pilot.com
The editorial note
What to know about Pilot
Is it right for you?
Who Pilot suits
Choose it if
- Startups who want a complete outsourced finance team — bookkeeping, taxes and CFO services — at a fraction of in-house cost.
Look elsewhere if
- Small businesses and solopreneurs with straightforward finances — Wave or Bench provide more affordable bookkeeping options for businesses under $500K annual revenue
What you get
Key features
- Monthly bookkeeping and reconciliation
- Tax preparation and filing
- Financial statements (P&L, balance sheet)
- CFO advisory services
- Cash flow forecasting
- R&D tax credits expertise
- SaaS metrics (MRR, ARR, churn)
- Investor-ready reporting
Works with
Integrations8
What it costs
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Core | $499 / monthBilled monthly | Monthly bookkeeping, P&L, balance sheet, financial statements, tax prep |
| Select | $779 / monthBilled monthly | Everything in Core plus CFO services, financial planning, dedicated team |
| Premium | CustomBilled monthly | Complex needs: multi-entity, inventory, fundraising support, enterprise-grade services |
Prices are recorded from the vendor's public pricing page and can change. Check before you buy.
The trade-off
Pros and cons
Pros
- Dedicated bookkeeping team plus AI automation ensures accurate monthly financials
- Startup expertise — deep knowledge of SaaS metrics, equity accounting, and startup finances
- Proactive financial insights identify issues before they become problems
- Integrates with existing tools (QuickBooks, Stripe, Gusto) for automated data ingestion
- Fast onboarding — most companies are live within two weeks of signing up
Cons
- Starting at $499/month makes it expensive for pre-revenue or early-stage startups
- Less suitable for businesses with complex inventory or physical product accounting
- CFO services require higher-tier plans at significantly more cost
- Less flexibility than hiring your own bookkeeper for very customized reporting requirements
Quick read
At a glance
- Category
- Finance & Business Services
- Pricing model
- Subscription
- Entry plan
- $499 / month
- Free plan
- Not listed
- Free trial
- Not listed
- Website
- pilot.com
The verdict
Our take on Pilot
The best bookkeeping service for startups — tech automation plus human accountants delivers corporate finance quality at startup prices.
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