Pilot review

Pilot is a service, not a ledger you operate yourself, and that is its appeal for founders who do not want to touch the books. Essentials at $99 per month covers up to $100,000 in monthly expenses with AI categorization, reconciliations and a monthly close, but it is cash-basis with a standard chart of accounts, which suits small businesses more than funded startups. The plan most venture-backed companies need is Core, which adds a US-based bookkeeper, accrual-basis books drawing on payroll, AP, inventory and payment platforms, a custom chart of accounts and reports by the 10th business day. Pilot does not publish the Core price; it is quoted by sales. The firm also files C-Corp taxes with Delaware franchise tax from $2,450 per year, runs R&D tax credit claims for 20% of the credit and offers CFO services from $1,750 per month. Expect to pay more than software alone, in exchange for not doing the work.

Who it is for

Funded startups that want someone else to own the books and the tax filing.

Price

Bookkeeping Essentials $99 per month for up to $100,000 in monthly expenses; Core and Custom quoted by sales; C-Corp tax from $2,450 per year.

Essentials $99 /month Up to $100,000 in monthly expenses
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• US-based bookkeeper who handles, explains and reviews your books on Core
• Cash or accrual-basis bookkeeping that pulls from bank, cards, payroll, AP and payment platforms
• Reports on the 10th business day on Core and the 6th on Custom
• C-Corp tax filing with Delaware franchise tax from $2,450 per year
• R&D tax credit claims for 20% of the credit received

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Bookkeeping, tax, R&D credits and CFO services from one firm
• Strength: Accrual-basis books for investor and lender reporting on Core
• Strength: Discounts offered to pre-revenue startups
• Weakness: Essentials is cash-basis only with a standard chart of accounts
• Weakness: Core and Custom prices are not published
• Weakness: Tax filing must be bought with Pilot Bookkeeping

Key facts

• Essentials: $99 per month, up to $100,000 monthly expenses
• C-Corp tax: From $2,450 per year
• CFO Basic: From $1,750 per month billed annually
• Stock administration: Free for pre-seed founders, then $399 per hour

Where it ranks

Pilot is No. 5 in our Best Accounting Software for Startups verdict.