Best Pilot Bookkeeping Alternatives in 2025

As a small business owner, you want to set yourself up for success from the start. To help achieve this goal, you should select the optimal business entity structure, consider hiring key employees to help carry out your vision, and identify the best bookkeeping partner capable of addressing your records today while scaling with your business as it grows. 

While Pilot has become a well-known bookkeeping option, many entrepreneurs are now seeking alternatives that offer more flexibility, greater affordability, and expert tax support. If you’re weighing your options for 2025, this guide will help. Use it to walk you through the best Pilot bookkeeping alternatives and how to choose the right firm to support your small business operations.

Key Highlights

• Pilot excels in automation but is limited in tax advisory and payroll service options.

• Leading alternatives such as 1-800Accountant, Mainstreet, and QuickBooks Live provide more comprehensive support for small businesses.

• Some Pilot competitors offer flat-rate pricing, integrated tax filing, and CPA access—features it often lacks.

• Choosing the best service for your operations comes down to cost, level of human support, industry expertise, and whether tax and payroll are options.

• 1-800Accountant stands out among competitors due to its full-service support, which includes bookkeeping, business tax preparation and filing, payroll, and business advisory solutions all in one centralized location, ensuring the best results.

Why Consider Alternatives to Pilot Bookkeeping?

Pilot has established a strong reputation as a venture-backed, tech-forward bookkeeping solution. Founders in particular appreciate where Pilot excels: automation, a polished interface, and a focus on startups.

Outside of that somewhat narrow concentration, small business owners have found that Pilot's services don't fully meet their needs, with these reasons commonly echoed: 

• Primarily bookkeeping and limited tax advisory services: Pilot does not provide robust tax planning or year-round guidance, which are essential for compliance,  savings, and growth.

• Higher pricing tiers: Pilot’s monthly plans can be significantly more expensive than many alternatives, especially as a business grows.

• Limited payroll and compliance help: Businesses often require integrated payroll and tax support to stay compliant with requirements such as IRS payroll deadlines.

That’s why alternatives are gaining traction—offering broader services at more affordable, transparent rates.

Top Pilot Bookkeeping Alternatives in 2025

Browse this list if you're comparing or considering bookkeeping vs. accounting services for your business. Reviewing this bookkeeping and tax services for small businesses list will help you determine which offer the features your business needs, such as online bookkeeping with CPA support.

1. 1-800Accountant (Best Overall Alternative)

1-800Accountant, America's leading virtual accounting firm, is the top full-service alternative to Pilot. Unlike software-only providers, it blends technology with real CPAs, EAs, bookkeepers, and tax professionals who understand the tax and compliance nuances of your state and industry. 

Key features include:

• Affordable, tax-deductible bookkeeping, tax preparation, payroll, and even business formation, in one efficient, centralized platform.

• Dedicated CPAs have over 17 years of experience on average.

• Flat-rate pricing—no hourly fees or surprise bills

• 1-800Accountant's Client Portal features document storage with industry-standard security protection, an efficient messaging center to communicate with your designated team, and clear, easy-to-understand reporting and dashboards. 

• A hybrid record-keeping approach combining 1-800Accountant's proprietary ClientBooks platform with personal year-round support from a real bookkeeper.

• Expertise in established and emerging industries in all 50 states, from e-commerce to trucking.

Proven results: Clients save an average of $12,000+ per year in taxes and see a 400% return on investment from its services. With nearly 10,000 verified 1-800Accountant reviews on Trustpilot and a 4.4/5 rating, the firm is trusted nationwide by new and established business owners.

2. Mainstreet (formerly Bench Accounting)

Mainstreet, formerly known as Bench, is well regarded for its user-friendly software and dedicated bookkeepers. It’s an affordable option for businesses not just considered small, but very small. If you're a single-person operation in need of bookkeeping support, Mainstreet is an early alternative to consider.   

Strengths:

• Proprietary bookkeeping platform with clear financial dashboards.

• Dedicated bookkeepers who manage monthly records.

Limitations:

• Tax filing isn’t included in basic plans—businesses must upgrade or hire outside help, adding additional costs.

3. QuickBooks Live

When it comes to accounting software, QuickBooks is the unquestioned leader, with over 60% of the market share. QuickBooks Live offers seamless integration for businesses already using QuickBooks Online, its cloud-based solution.

Strengths:

• Directly connects with existing QuickBooks accounts.

• Ideal for entrepreneurs seeking a comprehensive software ecosystem.

Limitations:

• Covers bookkeeping only—no tax planning, year-round advisory, or payroll expertise is currently available.

4. Bookkeeper360

Since 2012, Bookkeeper360 has provided bookkeeping and financial advisory services to growing businesses, with integrations into Xero and QuickBooks platforms.

Strengths:

• Offers CFO-level services for scaling businesses.

• Strong compatibility with major accounting software.

Limitations:

• Pricing escalates quickly for higher-transaction businesses, making other alternatives more attractive and affordable for maturing operations.

5. Xendoo

Xendoo was founded by a small business owner who experienced the inefficiencies of traditional accounting solutions. Xendoo primarily specializes in e-commerce and franchise bookkeeping support.

Strengths:

• Tailored plans for Shopify, Amazon sellers, and multi-location businesses.

• Some packages include tax filing.

Limitations:

• Less personalized solutions compared to full-service CPA firms.

6. Local CPAs & Boutique Firms

Some business owners prefer hiring local accountants who tend to be generalists. While local CPAs and boutique firms may provide reasonable support early on, billing can accumulate quickly, and they often lack the tools and expertise to scale effectively with your operations. 

Strengths:

• Face-to-face meetings and personalized attention.

• Ability to work with a trusted advisor in your community.

Limitations:

• Hourly billing can become costly fast.

• Limited scalability and digital tools compared to virtual accounting firms.

How to Choose the Right Pilot Alternative

When evaluating alternatives, it's essential to identify candidates who will support your business needs throughout the year, not just during tax season. Consider the following as you seek your trusted bookkeeping partner: 

• Cost: Is pricing flat-rate or hourly? Can you predict your monthly spend?

• Human support: Do you get access to a real CPA, EA, bookkeeper, or tax professional who knows your industry and the nuances of your region?

• Scope of services: Does the potential provider include a suite of financial solutions like tax preparation, payroll, and advisory, or only bookkeeping?

• Industry expertise: Does the firm have experience with your business type—like e-commerce, real estate, healthcare, or something else?

Once you've identified prospects, don't choose one until you determine the answers to the following questions: 

• Will this provider handle both my books and my taxes?

• How quickly can I get answers to financial questions?

• Can the service scale with my business as it grows?

Why 1-800Accountant Stands Out

While many Pilot alternatives offer services to address specific aspects of your business, 1-800Accountant provides the comprehensive package: bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, and ongoing advisory services—all with flat, predictable pricing, which eliminates uncertainty and ensures peace of mind. 

Clients operate unencumbered, knowing their business remains compliant throughout the year with key 2025 small business tax deadlines, while maximizing savings with proactive tax strategies and adjustments as dictated by evolving market conditions.

1-800Accountant is more than a bookkeeping service. It’s a partner that helps your business grow. 

Schedule your free 30-minute consultation today to get started.