Choosing a bookkeeping provider is about more than clean reports. It’s about finding a partner who understands your business, adapts with it, and doesn’t lock you into a system built for someone else.
In this side‑by‑side comparison, we look at Pilot and BELAY — two U.S.-based managed bookkeeping providers — to help you identify the right fit for your financial operations.
|
Category |
Pilot |
BELAY |
|
Service Model |
U.S.-based bookkeeping, tax, and CFO services. |
U.S.-based managed bookkeeping with dedicated financial experts focused on accuracy, context, and personal support and tailored to fit your exact business needs. |
|
Team Structure |
Financial services teams supported by software workflows and automation. |
Dedicated bookkeepers paired with account oversight, giving you consistent, high-touch support from someone who knows your books and business. |
|
Scope of Services |
Monthly bookkeeping, tax filing, financial reporting, and CFO-level insights. |
Bookkeeping, reconciliations, reporting, and insights with flexibility to expand or adapt based on your operations, not software limits. |
|
Scalability |
Scales vertically with revenue and transaction complexity. Additional services like tax and CFO advisory priced separately. |
Scales horizontally — increase support scope, frequency, or depth as your needs grow, without being forced into higher software tiers. |
|
Continuity & Oversight |
Systematic oversight built into software platform. Team-based support, though individual contact may vary. |
Built-in continuity with consistent human support, backup planning, and proactive review to ensure nothing gets lost in transition. |
|
Pricing Approach |
Tiered and custom pricing based on monthly expenses, complexity, and volume. |
Custom pricing built from your actual workload. No rigid brackets or overspend on unused service tiers. |
|
Technology & Tools |
Strong automation layer. Uses proprietary platform for reporting, communication, and visibility. |
Tech-supported but people-led. BELAY uses trusted cloud tools, not proprietary portals which means less friction and more flexibility. |
|
Ideal For |
Startups and tech-forward businesses that want an automated, low‑touch bookkeeping platform with advisory options. |
Businesses that value accuracy, relationship-based service, and a financial partner that evolves with them. |
Pilot is built for automation — and for some startups, that’s the right answer.
But businesses outgrow pure automation quickly.
BELAY puts experienced financial experts at the center of every engagement, supported by cloud tools, not boxed in by them.
Pilot’s pricing and structure scale based on volume and complexity. That sounds fair, until your business shifts and you're forced into a higher bracket.
BELAY customizes support around how you actually work, so your financial partner adapts without overcharging or overcommitting.
Dashboards are helpful. Conversations are essential.
BELAY keeps your financials clean and timely, while also offering the relationship stability of a dedicated bookkeeper and responsive team who knows what matters to your business.
Pilot can work well for software-heavy teams.
BELAY works well for growing organizations that need support to match their workflow, not rewire them. Whether you already use QuickBooks or something else, BELAY plugs into your systems without disrupting your operations.
Pilot could work well if:
BELAY is likely a better match if:
Pilot offers an automation-forward, software-first model that appeals to tech-savvy startups and high-growth businesses.
But BELAY delivers something different — dedicated financial support from real people who learn your business, adapt to your workflow, and grow with you.