Pilot vs Bookkeeper360: bookkeeping plans and add-ons

Pilot and Bookkeeper360 publish bookkeeping with additional finance services. Their advertised starting offers should be treated as different packages until you confirm accounting basis, accounts covered, review, reporting, and support. A small price difference can hide a larger difference in work left with the client.

List every bank, card, processor, payroll system, loan, and billing source. State whether the books need cash or accrual reporting and whether historical cleanup is required. Ask both providers to quote that same record rather than selecting an entry tier solely from a headline.

Use a processor payout or payroll payment to test the proposed service. Ask how gross activity, fees, refunds, liabilities, and bank movements are reconciled. The team should be able to explain a difference without treating every mismatch as an expense adjustment.

Request support for material balance-sheet accounts as well as a profit report. Ask who reviews unusual items and which records remain provisional if a document is missing. A monthly close needs a definition that both the provider and your staff understand.

Compare tax preparation, planning, payroll support, bill management, and CFO work as named assignments. Confirm which entity and filings are covered, whether your bookkeeping subscription is a prerequisite, and how additions affect the agreement.

If CFO support is offered, ask who maintains the forecast and what preparation happens before a meeting. If tax work is included, ask who approves adjustments and updates the ledger. Related services should connect through documented handoffs rather than rely on the shared provider name.

Request an onboarding plan, cleanup fee, recurring fee, software requirements, and expected delivery dates. Identify the inputs required from your staff and how delays are handled. Check tier changes when spending or activity fluctuates.

Use the first close to verify reconciliations, review, reporting, and the open-item process. Keep access and export terms clear. Choose the proposal that covers the accounts your business uses and provides records another accountant can understand if the relationship changes.