# Pilot — A bookkeeping and tax service for startups that pairs software-driven dashboards with human financial advisors. > Source: Tick Mark Books — https://tickmarkbooks.com/pilot (structured, researched, re-verified) Pilot keeps a US business's books in QuickBooks Online: on Essentials its AI categorizes and reconciles transactions, and on Core a US-based bookkeeper does and reviews the books. It is for US startups and small businesses, priced by monthly expenses, with tax filing and CFO work sold on top. **Best for:** A US startup or small business that wants its books done for it in QuickBooks Online | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Website | https://pilot.com/ | | Category | Online bookkeeping services, Cheapest accounting software, Small businesses, Startups, Works with QuickBooks Online, Works with Xero | | Open source | No | Screenshot of Pilot: https://tickmarkbooks.com/img/1920/screenshots/pilot.webp, captured 26 October 2026 **What we checked** - Pages last read: 26 October 2026 ## What it costs A month of books at 100 transactions: $137 a month at 100 transactions, on Essentials ## Pilot price and plans Prices excluding tax, as Pilot publishes them. | Plan | Price | What's included | | --- | --- | --- | | Core, up to $100,000 | From $815 a month | Flat fee; Needs QuickBooks Online Simple Start, $38 a month; $815 setup, once | | Core, up to $15,000 | From $399 a month | Flat fee; Needs QuickBooks Online Simple Start, $38 a month; $399 setup, once | | Core, up to $150,000 | From $959 a month | Flat fee; Needs QuickBooks Online Simple Start, $38 a month; $959 setup, once | | Core, up to $200,000 | From $1,199 a month | Flat fee; Needs QuickBooks Online Simple Start, $38 a month; $1,199 setup, once | | Core, up to $30,000 | From $599 a month | Flat fee; Needs QuickBooks Online Simple Start, $38 a month; $599 setup, once | | Core, up to $60,000 | From $669 a month | Flat fee; Needs QuickBooks Online Simple Start, $38 a month; $669 setup, once | | Essentials | $99 a month | Flat fee; Needs QuickBooks Online Simple Start, $38 a month; $99 setup, once | **What needs a higher plan** - Core: Accrual books and reports, People check the books, Your own bookkeeper, When the month is closed, Support - Custom: Several businesses Pricing page as we captured it: https://tickmarkbooks.com/img/1920/screenshots/pilot/pricing.webp, captured 26 October 2026 Read on its pricing page, 26 October 2026. ## What Pilot costs at your volume | Transactions | Cost | Plan | | --- | --- | --- | | 100 | $137 a month | Essentials | | 500 | $137 a month | Essentials | ## What we checked on Pilot ### What it costs to keep your books **Cost at 100 transactions a month** · Yes — $137 a month on Essentials for 100 transactions. Includes QuickBooks Online Simple Start at $38 a month, which Essentials needs. Plus a one-time setup fee of $99, not included. > Essentials $99 /month Up to $100,000 in monthly expenses > — https://pilot.com/pricing · Bookkeeping tab, Essentials plan card, checked 26 October 2026 **Cost at 500 transactions a month** · Yes — $137 a month on Essentials for 500 transactions. Includes QuickBooks Online Simple Start at $38 a month, which Essentials needs. Plus a one-time setup fee of $99, not included. > Essentials $99 /month Up to $100,000 in monthly expenses > — https://pilot.com/pricing · Bookkeeping tab, Essentials plan card, checked 26 October 2026 **Ledger included** · No — Works in QuickBooks Online; you pay for the license. Every bookkeeping plan is done in QuickBooks Online (FAQ: 'Pilot does all of its bookkeeping in QuickBooks Online'). > You agree to (a) maintain all subscriptions to Third-Party Services that are required for the provision of the Services and Pilot Platform or the operation of Internal Software; ... and (d) if we agree to procure Third-Party Services for you (for example, QuickBooks Online), reimburse us for such costs. > — https://pilot.com/terms/client-terms · Client Services Agreement, section 2.4 Third-Party Services; also 1.3 QuickBooks Online, 1.11 Free trials, 5.4 Effect of termination; FAQ 'Why use QuickBooks?' at https://pilot.com/faq, checked 26 October 2026 **What the price is based on** · Yes — monthly_expenses: bands of monthly spending. Essentials is one price for up to $100,000 in monthly expenses. > Why do you price based on expenses? Our goal is simple and transparent pricing. In examining different models, we found that expenses closely reflected business complexity while also having the advantage of being simple to calculate. To determine the best Pilot plan for your business’ needs, we also factor in the number of financial institutions, transactions, and hours of support. > — https://pilot.com/faq · Pricing section, 'Why do you price based on expenses?' and 'How should I calculate my monthly expenses?'; Core slider on https://pilot.com/pricing, checked 26 October 2026 **Past your plan’s limits** · Partly — Moved up a band from your 3-month average. No per-unit overage price. > How do prices change as I grow? We understand the importance of predictability and transparency. Every month, we’ll average your prior 3 months of books to understand your current expenses, as well as how your financial institution connections, special transactions, and hours of support have changed. > — https://pilot.com/faq · Pricing section, 'How do prices change as I grow?'; also 'When I prepay for a year, does that lock in my price?' and Ecommerce section 'Your Core plan includes connections to four financial institutions...', checked 26 October 2026 **Setup or onboarding fee** · Yes — Onboarding charge equal to one month. A one-time onboarding charge equal to one month of bookkeeping on every plan (so $99 on Essentials and $399 to $1,199 on Core, by band, at monthly billing). > Are there any one–time fees when I sign up for Pilot? Yes, there’s an onboarding charge equal to one month of bookkeeping to help us make sure your setup process is a smooth one. > — https://pilot.com/faq · Pricing section, 'Are there any one–time fees when I sign up for Pilot?', checked 26 October 2026 **Catching up past months** · Partly — Offered; no price published. Pilot says it offers catch-up bookkeeping, but the pricing page and FAQ carry no catch-up product or price. > Pilot and Bench also offer catch up bookkeeping, so you can get past months’ books in order, too. > — https://pilot.com/blog/bench-vs-pilot-bookkeeping-service · 'Key feature differences between Bench and Pilot'; Custom plan card on https://pilot.com/pricing 'Keep your existing QuickBooks account and historical data', checked 26 October 2026 ### What the AI does with your books **Categorizes transactions** · Yes — AI categorizes and learns your patterns. The AI Accountant categorizes transactions, reconciles accounts and identifies vendors. > Pilot's AI Accountant is trained on a decade of books across thousands of businesses. It learns your patterns to figure out what goes where, flagging only what looks unusual: duplicate charges, unexpected amounts, new vendors. > — https://pilot.com/platform/ai-accountant · 'Monthly close happens while you work on what matters'; FAQ 'What happens if the AI can't categorize a transaction?', checked 26 October 2026 **Reconciles your accounts** · Yes — Bank and card accounts reconciled each month. Essentials: AI reconciles accounts and closes the books monthly. > Best for: Small businesses that just want clean books. AI categorizes transactions, reconciles accounts, and closes books monthly. > — https://pilot.com/pricing · Bookkeeping tab, Essentials plan card; close checklist at https://pilot.com/terms/bookkeeping-policies 'Typical Monthly Close Process', checked 26 October 2026 **Pays your bills** · Partly — Bill payment is an add-on; Core manages 10 bills. Accounts payable is not in the bookkeeping plans by default. > Are AP/AR services included in Pilot Bookkeeping? They are not included by default, but you can add them to any plan. Please ask your sales rep for details. > — https://pilot.com/faq · How It Works, 'Are AP/AR services included in Pilot Bookkeeping?'; https://pilot.com/pricing COO tab Essentials card; Bookkeeping tab Core card; https://pilot.com/outsourced-operations 'Payments and contractors', checked 26 October 2026 **Sends invoices** · Partly — Invoicing is an add-on service. Pilot has no invoicing feature in its bookkeeping plans. > Will you send invoices to my customers and help pay my bills? Yes, we’re happy to provide this support as an additional service. Please contact your sales rep for details. > — https://pilot.com/faq · How It Works, 'Will you send invoices to my customers and help pay my bills?'; https://pilot.com/outsourced-operations 'Invoicing and receivables', checked 26 October 2026 **Accrual books and reports** · Partly — Cash basis on Essentials; accrual on Core. Essentials is cash-basis bookkeeping only. > Everything in Essentials, plus: US-based bookkeeper who handles, explains, and reviews your books Cash or accrual-basis bookkeeping that pulls from your bank, credit cards, payroll, AP, inventory, and payment platforms > — https://pilot.com/pricing · Bookkeeping tab, Core plan card; Essentials card 'Cash-basis bookkeeping using data from your bank and credit cards'; statements at https://pilot.com/bookkeeping 'Accurate Books', checked 26 October 2026 ### Who checks the AI’s work **People check the books** · Partly — Bookkeeper reviews on Core; Essentials is AI only. Essentials is described as AI doing the work ('AI categorizes transactions, reconciles accounts, and closes books monthly'), with support by in-app message. > US-based bookkeeper who handles, explains, and reviews your books > — https://pilot.com/pricing · Bookkeeping tab, Core plan card, first line under 'Everything in Essentials, plus:', checked 26 October 2026 **Your own bookkeeper** · Partly — A US-based bookkeeper and team on Core. Core includes a US-based bookkeeper and 'your dedicated team' by app, email and phone. > Support from your dedicated team in-app, email, and over the phone > — https://pilot.com/pricing · Bookkeeping tab, Core plan card, checked 26 October 2026 **When the month is closed** · Partly — Reports by 10th business day on Core (their claim). Pilot says Core reports are ready on the 10th business day and Custom on the 6th. > Reports on the 10th business day > — https://pilot.com/pricing · Bookkeeping tab, Core plan card; Custom card 'Reports on the 6th business day', checked 26 October 2026 **Accuracy the vendor claims** · No — No accuracy figure published. No accuracy figure for the AI on any page read. > The result is unparalleled precision and accuracy across all of our accounting services. > — https://pilot.com/why-pilot · 'Innovative workflows for improved accuracy', checked 26 October 2026 ### Where your books live and what it connects to **QuickBooks Online** · Yes — QuickBooks Online only > Can I use Pilot if I want to keep Xero? No, because Pilot's service is built around QuickBooks Online. Our team uses QuickBooks to manage your books. > — https://pilot.com/blog/xero-vs-pilot-comparison-for-business-owners · FAQ at the end of the post; 'Pilot does all of its bookkeeping in QuickBooks Online' at https://pilot.com/faq 'Why use QuickBooks?'; Meridian ledgers at https://meridian.pilot.com/security 'Which general ledgers does Meridian work with?', checked 26 October 2026 **Xero** · Yes — Can I use Pilot if I want to keep Xero? > Can I use Pilot if I want to keep Xero? No, because Pilot's service is built around QuickBooks Online. Our team uses QuickBooks to manage your books. > — https://pilot.com/blog/xero-vs-pilot-comparison-for-business-owners · FAQ at the end of the post; 'Pilot does all of its bookkeeping in QuickBooks Online' at https://pilot.com/faq 'Why use QuickBooks?'; Meridian ledgers at https://meridian.pilot.com/security 'Which general ledgers does Meridian work with?', checked 26 October 2026 **Stripe** · Yes — Stripe, Shopify, Gusto yes > When Stripe takes fees, Amazon holds back reserves, or your payment processor batches deposits, Pilot reconciles it correctly. ... Revenue from Shopify, expenses from Ramp, or payroll from Gusto flows into your books without you playing middleman. > — https://pilot.com/platform/integrations · 'Pilot handles the matching work across systems' and 'Your financials flow in...'; Stripe at https://pilot.com/integrations-stripe; PayPal and Square in the list at https://pilot.com/integrations 'Payment & Money Transfer'; fees FAQ at https://pilot.com/faq Ecommerce, checked 26 October 2026 **Shopify** · Yes — Stripe, Shopify, Gusto yes > When Stripe takes fees, Amazon holds back reserves, or your payment processor batches deposits, Pilot reconciles it correctly. ... Revenue from Shopify, expenses from Ramp, or payroll from Gusto flows into your books without you playing middleman. > — https://pilot.com/platform/integrations · 'Pilot handles the matching work across systems' and 'Your financials flow in...'; Stripe at https://pilot.com/integrations-stripe; PayPal and Square in the list at https://pilot.com/integrations 'Payment & Money Transfer'; fees FAQ at https://pilot.com/faq Ecommerce, checked 26 October 2026 **PayPal** · Yes — PayPal, Square listed > When Stripe takes fees, Amazon holds back reserves, or your payment processor batches deposits, Pilot reconciles it correctly. ... Revenue from Shopify, expenses from Ramp, or payroll from Gusto flows into your books without you playing middleman. > — https://pilot.com/platform/integrations · 'Pilot handles the matching work across systems' and 'Your financials flow in...'; Stripe at https://pilot.com/integrations-stripe; PayPal and Square in the list at https://pilot.com/integrations 'Payment & Money Transfer'; fees FAQ at https://pilot.com/faq Ecommerce, checked 26 October 2026 **Square** · Yes — PayPal, Square listed > When Stripe takes fees, Amazon holds back reserves, or your payment processor batches deposits, Pilot reconciles it correctly. ... Revenue from Shopify, expenses from Ramp, or payroll from Gusto flows into your books without you playing middleman. > — https://pilot.com/platform/integrations · 'Pilot handles the matching work across systems' and 'Your financials flow in...'; Stripe at https://pilot.com/integrations-stripe; PayPal and Square in the list at https://pilot.com/integrations 'Payment & Money Transfer'; fees FAQ at https://pilot.com/faq Ecommerce, checked 26 October 2026 **Gusto payroll** · Yes — Stripe, Shopify, Gusto yes > When Stripe takes fees, Amazon holds back reserves, or your payment processor batches deposits, Pilot reconciles it correctly. ... Revenue from Shopify, expenses from Ramp, or payroll from Gusto flows into your books without you playing middleman. > — https://pilot.com/platform/integrations · 'Pilot handles the matching work across systems' and 'Your financials flow in...'; Stripe at https://pilot.com/integrations-stripe; PayPal and Square in the list at https://pilot.com/integrations 'Payment & Money Transfer'; fees FAQ at https://pilot.com/faq Ecommerce, checked 26 October 2026 **Moves your history in** · Partly — From Xero: monthly totals for this year only. Pilot moves Xero users onto QuickBooks Online during onboarding, as monthly summary journal entries for the current year only, not transaction history. > If I’m on Xero, can you migrate me from Xero? Yes, we can help you transition your books over to QBO. As part of our onboarding process, we’ll make monthly journal entries in Quickbooks from your monthly account totals in Xero (for both the balance sheet and the P&L/income statement) going back to the beginning of the year. > — https://pilot.com/faq · Integration section, 'If I’m on Xero, can you migrate me from Xero?'; Custom card on https://pilot.com/pricing, checked 26 October 2026 **Getting your books out** · Yes — QuickBooks Online file handed to you. When bookkeeping ends, Pilot hands you primary administrator status of the QuickBooks Online account, so you keep the full ledger in QuickBooks Online (continuing the Intuit subscription yourself) or export it. > In the event your subscription to bookkeeping Services ends, we will be available to transfer to you the “primary administrator” status for the QuickBooks Online account, so that you can elect to maintain that subscription with Intuit or export your data. > — https://pilot.com/terms/client-terms · Section 5.4 Effect of termination or expiration; FAQ 'Why use QuickBooks?' at https://pilot.com/faq, checked 26 October 2026 ### Taxes **Files your tax return** · Partly — Pilot Tax add-on from $1,000+/yr. Tax filing is not in the bookkeeping plans. > For Single Member LLCs Starts at $1,000+ /year billed annually What's included: Free tax extension Federal income tax filing State income tax filing Quarterly tax payments (safe harbor) Schedule C for your LLC’s income and loss > — https://pilot.com/pricing · Tax tab, Single Member LLC card; Additional services table row 'Individual tax return 1040'; FAQ 'How do taxes work with Pilot?', checked 26 October 2026 **Files 1099s** · Partly — 1099-NECs only with the Pilot Tax add-on. With Pilot Tax, Pilot e-files Form 1099-NEC: up to 25 on the Partnership and S-Corp plan and up to 10 on the C-Corp plan. > If you have Pilot Tax, our 1099 vendor information request form makes it easy to submit vendor information and e-file Form 1099-NEC. If you are only using Pilot Bookkeeping, we are not able to file 1099 forms for you. > — https://pilot.com/faq · Taxes section, 'Can Pilot handle my 1099s?'; Tax tab cards on https://pilot.com/pricing, checked 26 October 2026 **Quarterly tax estimates** · Partly — Safe-harbor quarterly payments in a tax add-on. Only the Pilot Tax plan for single-member LLCs lists 'Quarterly tax payments (safe harbor)', a tax add-on. > Quarterly tax payments (safe harbor) > — https://pilot.com/pricing · Tax tab, Single Member LLC card; calculator at https://pilot.com/calculators/personal-estimated-tax-payments-calculator, checked 26 October 2026 ### Your data and its security **Your data trains AI** · Yes — Trains its AI on customer books; no opt-out. The privacy policy says Pilot builds categorization rules from 'learnings from Customer Data' and develops AI methods on it, and keeps de-identified data from those rules indefinitely. > We develop automated rules that increase efficiency in tasks such as categorizations based on learnings from Customer Data. We develop and use AI-based methods of processing Customer Data to deliver the Services. > — https://pilot.com/terms/privacy · 'How we use Customer Data' > 'To Provide, Monitor, and Improve our Services'; client terms 2.3; https://pilot.com/blog/free-trial 'Use Pilot’s AI accountant', checked 26 October 2026 ### Who it is built for **For accounting firms** · Yes — Meridian for firms; white-label partner program. Pilot sells Meridian, a separate AI close platform for accounting firms covering all their clients (QuickBooks Online and Xero). > Meridian is the AI operating system for accounting firms, combining an autonomous month-end close with an AI accountant engineered to handle complex bookkeeping and client support tasks. > — https://pilot.com/meridian · FAQ 'What is Meridian?'; white label at https://pilot.com/lp/tax-professionals 'Pilot delivers under your firm's name', checked 26 October 2026 **Several businesses** · Partly — One entity per order; more on Custom by quote. By default Pilot keeps the books of only the entity that signs the order form. > Unless otherwise indicated in the “Scope of Work” section of the Order Form, Pilot only performs bookkeeping for the customer/entity that signs the Order Form (and not related entities). Consolidation is performed if management (i) informs Pilot about related entities (including subsidiaries and variable interest entities) and (ii) purchases bookkeeping services for consolidated financial statements. > — https://pilot.com/terms/bookkeeping-policies · 'Entities & Consolidation'; Custom card on https://pilot.com/pricing; FAQ 'Do you support international companies?', checked 26 October 2026 **United States** · Yes — United States only > We can support you if your company is a US entity, no matter where you are based in the world. We can also provide US entities with foreign subsidiaries with consolidated reporting. As of now, we do not support foreign entities. > — https://pilot.com/faq · How It Works, 'Do you support international companies?'; banks at https://pilot.com/platform/integrations FAQ 'Does Pilot work with international banks...', checked 26 October 2026 **Canada** · No — not Canada, UK or Australia. > We can support you if your company is a US entity, no matter where you are based in the world. We can also provide US entities with foreign subsidiaries with consolidated reporting. As of now, we do not support foreign entities. > — https://pilot.com/faq · How It Works, 'Do you support international companies?'; banks at https://pilot.com/platform/integrations FAQ 'Does Pilot work with international banks...', checked 26 October 2026 **Australia** · No — not Canada, UK or Australia. > We can support you if your company is a US entity, no matter where you are based in the world. We can also provide US entities with foreign subsidiaries with consolidated reporting. As of now, we do not support foreign entities. > — https://pilot.com/faq · How It Works, 'Do you support international companies?'; banks at https://pilot.com/platform/integrations FAQ 'Does Pilot work with international banks...', checked 26 October 2026 ### Trying it, starting and getting help **Sign up without a sales call** · No — Plans bought through sales; only the trial is self-serve. Every bookkeeping, tax, CFO and COO plan card on the pricing page leads to 'Contact Sales' (/talk-to-expert); there is no buy or sign-up button for a paid plan. > Contact Sales > — https://pilot.com/pricing · Bookkeeping tab, button on the Essentials, Core and Custom cards, checked 26 October 2026 **Contract and cancelling** · Partly — Monthly or annual; cancel by emailing support. The pricing page has a Monthly / Annually toggle; Core is cheaper billed annually ($299 against $399 a month in the first band). > Non-renewal notice must be provided at least (a) seven (7) days for monthly or quarterly subscriptions; or (b) thirty (30) days for annual subscriptions, in each case, prior to the end of the then-current Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable. > — https://pilot.com/terms/client-terms · Section 5.2 Automatic renewal; 5.3 no refund; Monthly/Annually toggle on https://pilot.com/pricing, checked 26 October 2026 **Support** · Partly — In-app on Essentials; email and phone on Core. Essentials: in-app messaging, plus the Pilot AI chat (not a person). > Support through in-app messaging > — https://pilot.com/pricing · Bookkeeping tab, Essentials card; Core card 'Support from your dedicated team in-app, email, and over the phone'; response time at https://pilot.com/platform/communication FAQ 'How quickly does the Pilot team respond to questions?', checked 26 October 2026 ## Pilot alternatives - [Puzzle](https://tickmarkbooks.com/puzzle) · No list price: AI-native accounting software with optional bookkeeper services for startups and small businesses. - [FreeAgent](https://tickmarkbooks.com/freeagent) · From £10 a month (about $13): UK cloud accounting with HMRC filing, bank feeds and AI receipt capture, priced per business type. - [Zoho Books](https://tickmarkbooks.com/zoho-books) · Free plan, then $20 a month: Cloud accounting ledger with Zia AI, bank feeds, sales tax and 1099 e-filing, from $20 a month. - [Booke AI](https://tickmarkbooks.com/booke-ai) · No list price: An AI bookkeeper that works inside QuickBooks Online and Xero to categorize transactions and match documents. - [Stampli](https://tickmarkbooks.com/stampli) · Price on request: Procure-to-pay workspace for invoices, vendors, payments and card spend, with AI coding and routing. - [SimpleAI](https://tickmarkbooks.com/simpleai) · From $79 a month: AI agents that extract, classify and reconcile accounting documents, then publish them into Xero or QuickBooks. - [Bookkeeper360](https://tickmarkbooks.com/bookkeeper360) · From $19 a month: US-based outsourced bookkeeping, tax and CFO team working in your QuickBooks Online or Xero. - [Zeni](https://tickmarkbooks.com/zeni) · From $549 a month: AI bookkeeping with a dedicated finance team, built on QuickBooks Online Plus. - [Digits](https://tickmarkbooks.com/digits) · From $65 a month: AI-native general ledger that books and reconciles itself, replacing QuickBooks or Xero for US businesses. 6 of the 9 publish a price. [All 9 alternatives](https://tickmarkbooks.com/pilot/alternatives/) ## Sources and changes Last changed 26 October 2026 **Sources** (12) - https://pilot.com/pricing, read 26 October 2026 - https://pilot.com/faq, read 26 October 2026 - https://pilot.com/terms/client-terms, read 26 October 2026 - https://pilot.com/blog/bench-vs-pilot-bookkeeping-service, read 26 October 2026 - https://pilot.com/blog/xero-vs-pilot-comparison-for-business-owners, read 26 October 2026 - https://pilot.com/meridian, read 26 October 2026 - https://pilot.com/platform/ai-accountant, read 26 October 2026 - https://pilot.com/platform/integrations, read 26 October 2026 - https://meridian.pilot.com/security, read 26 October 2026 - https://pilot.com/terms/bookkeeping-policies, read 26 October 2026 - https://pilot.com/terms/privacy, read 26 October 2026 - https://pilot.com/why-pilot, read 26 October 2026 ## Is this yours? Claim Pilot: https://tickmarkbooks.com/claim/pilot Report an error if a fact is wrong: hello@tickmarkbooks.com, subject "Report an error: Pilot (pilot)".