SF Business Solutions vs Pilot for startups
Pilot is built for startups: an AI-powered Essentials plan at $99 a month, plans with a US-based bookkeeper billed annually, and tax and CFO services sold alongside. SF Business Solutions keeps startup books in your own QuickBooks Online or Xero from $250 a month, closed between the 5th and 15th of the following month, depending on when documents arrive. Pilot suits venture-backed companies that want one startup-focused platform; SF Business Solutions suits founders who want accountants working in their own software.
By SF Business Solutions · Our team includes one licensed CPA · 1 sources · Updated September 10, 2026
At a glance
Pilot's details are from its own pricing page as of September 2026.
| SF Business Solutions | Pilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $250 a month | Essentials $99 a month, AI-powered; Core with a US-based bookkeeper billed annually |
| Who does the books | Accountants on the team, in your software | AI categorization on Essentials; a US-based bookkeeper on Core |
| Reports | Usually between the 5th and 15th of the following month, depending on when documents arrive | Core: on the 10th business day; Custom: on the 6th |
| Software | Your own QuickBooks Online or Xero | Pilot's platform; the Custom plan can keep your existing QuickBooks |
| Tax | Tax returns prepared and filed, quoted | From $1,000 a year (single-member LLC), $2,000 (partnerships and S corps), $2,450 (C corps), bought with Pilot bookkeeping |
| CFO | Budgeting and forecasting, quoted | From $1,750 a month, billed annually |
| Add-ons | Cleanup, payroll and AP/AR, quoted | R&D tax credit at 20% of the credit received; stock administration $399 an hour |
Where Pilot is stronger
Pilot is designed around startups and publishes a full stack for them: bookkeeping, federal and state income tax filings, Delaware franchise tax filings on its corporate and partnership plans, CFO services from $1,750 a month and an R&D tax credit add-on. For a venture-backed company that wants one vendor for the whole back office, and board-ready reporting at scale, that breadth is the point.
Its $99 Essentials plan is also the lowest published entry price in this comparison, for founders happy with AI-led categorization.
Where SF Business Solutions is stronger
The books live in your own QuickBooks Online or Xero, set up the way investors read them, and people do the coding and reconciling rather than software alone. Pilot's tax plans must be bought with Pilot bookkeeping; at SF Business Solutions, the team that keeps your books also runs payroll and prepares and files your tax return.
It suits seed-stage companies that want accrual books and a monthly close without buying a whole platform, and teams whose books need a cleanup first, from $250.
What to ask either provider
Investors, auditors and buyers will all read a startup's books, so ask both providers the same questions before you sign.
- Will the books be on an accrual basis, with deferred revenue for annual contracts?
- By what date each month will I get statements?
- Can I keep my books in QuickBooks Online or Xero if I leave?
- Who prepares the tax return, and must I buy the bookkeeping to get it?
- How does the price change as transactions grow?
Which to choose
The question is how much of the back office you want from one vendor.
- Choose Pilot if you are venture-backed and want bookkeeping, tax and CFO work from one startup-focused provider.
- Choose Pilot Essentials if AI-led bookkeeping at $99 a month is enough for now.
- Choose SF Business Solutions if you want accountants in your own QuickBooks Online or Xero.
- Choose SF Business Solutions if you want your books, payroll and tax return from one team, in QuickBooks Online or Xero.
SF Business Solutions vs Pilot: which is better for a startup?
Pilot suits venture-backed startups wanting one platform for books, tax and CFO work. SF Business Solutions suits founders who want accountants working in their own QuickBooks Online or Xero, from $250 a month.
How fast are the books closed?
SF Business Solutions usually closes between the 5th and 15th of the following month, depending on when documents arrive. Pilot's Core plan promises reports by the 10th business day.
Who prepares the tax return?
At SF Business Solutions, the team that keeps your books prepares and files your tax return. Pilot's tax plans are sold together with Pilot bookkeeping.
Does SF Business Solutions do accrual books for startups?
Yes. It keeps accrual-basis books and closes every month, in QuickBooks Online or Xero.
Is Pilot's Essentials plan done by people?
No. On Essentials, AI categorizes transactions, reconciles accounts and closes the books monthly, as of September 2026. A US-based bookkeeper comes with the Core plan.
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