Pilot alternatives for startups

Last updated 2026-10-17. Prices and terms checked against each linked source on 2026-10-17; vendors change them, so confirm before you buy.

Pilot runs bookkeeping for startups; its Essentials plan is $99/mo (AI categorization and reconciliation, cash-basis books closed monthly, up to $100K in monthly expenses), and its Core plan with a US-based bookkeeper is priced by monthly expenses.

Other services price differently. Bench (owned by Employer.com since it shut down and was bought in December 2024) lists Bookkeeping Light at $199/mo up to Bookkeeping + Tax at $649/mo; Kruze Consulting lists $650–$1,500/mo for funded C-corps. Here are the alternatives in the directory, grouped by stage.

See the Pilot listing, Best startup bookkeeping services and Accounting software for startups.

Pre-seed: Keep it lean: a bank, a card, simple books and Stripe.

Tool	What it is	Pricing
Bench	Done-for-you bookkeeping and tax filing for small US businesses, run by in-house bookkeepers. Owned by Employer.com since Dec 2024. Bench abruptly shut down on Dec 27, 2024, was acquired by Employer.com days later, and resumed service in January 2025. As of October 2026 it is operating and taking new customers under Employer.com ownership. Ask about data export and contract terms before you sign.	Bookkeeping Light $199/mo (businesses with $250K or less in annual revenue); Bookkeeping $399/mo; Bookkeeping + Tax $649/mo; save 20% paying yearly.source	Visit
Bookkeeper360	Bookkeeping, payroll and advisory for small businesses.	See pricing: https://www.bookkeeper360.com/pricing	Visit

Seed: You raised and are hiring: add spend controls, real books, payroll and a forecast.

Tool	What it is	Pricing
Kruze Consulting	Accounting, tax and finance for VC-backed startups.	Basic $650–$850/mo; Founder Timesaver $850–$1,500/mo; Premium by quote; one-time onboarding fee per entity. Accrual-basis bookkeeping with a dedicated accounting manager.source	Visit
Zeni	AI bookkeeping with a finance team for startups.	See pricing: https://www.zeni.ai/pricing	Visit
inDinero	Outsourced accounting, tax and finance for growing companies.	See pricing: https://www.indinero.com/pricing	Visit

Order within each stage follows our editorial list and is not affected by payment. Paid placements are labeled Featured.

How to choose

Decide whether you need cash-basis or accrual books; investors and audits usually expect accrual.
Ask whether tax filing, R&D credit work and 409A support are included or extra (see Tax & Compliance).
Compare against our full list of startup bookkeeping services.

FAQ

How much does Pilot cost?

Pilot's Essentials plan is $99/mo for up to $100K in monthly expenses; Core is priced by monthly expenses, per Pilot's pricing page.

Is Bench cheaper than Pilot?

Bench's lowest plan, Bookkeeping Light, is $199/mo for businesses with $250K or less in annual revenue, versus $99/mo for Pilot Essentials. Compare what each includes. Note that Bench briefly shut down in December 2024 before Employer.com acquired it and restarted service in January 2025.

Which bookkeeping service is built for venture-funded startups?

Kruze Consulting says it works with funded Delaware C-corps that have raised at least $500K, from pre-seed to Series C, at $650–$1,500/mo for its listed plans.

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