A note before you read: ABFI is neither Bench nor Pilot, and we have no affiliate deal with either. We do offer outsourced accounting, so we've kept this page to what each company says about itself and what named reviewers report, and we've put our own option in its own section at the end so you can skip it.
First, what changed at Bench
People still ask about this, so it's worth saying plainly. Bench shut down suddenly in late December 2024, and Employer.com acquired it within days, keeping the service running for customers [1][2]. Plans, pricing and the service model may have changed since the new ownership. Before you compare, read Bench's current site for what it offers today [1].
That history doesn't mean Bench is a bad choice now. It does mean you should ask any provider, Bench, Pilot or anyone else, a simple question: if you stopped working with them tomorrow, could you download all of your books in a standard format? See questions to ask an outsourced accountant.
Side by side
| Bench | Pilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Small businesses with simple books [1] | Startups and growing companies, often venture-backed [3] |
| Core service | Monthly bookkeeping: categorize, reconcile, statements [1] | Bookkeeping, plus tax and CFO services from one provider [3] |
| How you work with them | Mostly through Bench's app [1] | Through a dedicated team and Pilot's platform [3] |
| Pricing model | Monthly plans; check Bench's current page [1] | Tiers by monthly expenses, per NerdWallet's review [4] |
| Investor-ready reporting | Basic monthly statements | A main focus, including accrual books for startups [3][4] |
| Best for | Simple, small, mostly year-end needs | Funded startups that want one startup specialist |
Who a Bench-style service fits
- Solo owners and small teams with one bank account, a card and a handful of income sources
- Businesses that mainly need clean books for year end and a monthly picture
- Owners who are happy to answer questions in an app and don't need anyone running bills or invoices
Who Pilot fits
- Venture-backed or fundraising startups that need accrual books investors and auditors will accept
- Founders who want bookkeeping, tax filing and CFO help from one provider
- Companies whose spending is growing and who are comfortable with expense-based pricing tiers
Startups weighing software as well as service should read best accounting software for startups.
Questions that decide it
- Are you a startup with investors, or an established small business? That one question settles most Bench vs Pilot decisions.
- Cash or accrual? If a lender, investor or buyer wants accrual statements, make sure the plan includes them.
- Do you want someone to do things, or only record them? Recording transactions is different from paying bills, sending invoices and chasing late payers.
- Whose software are the books in? Ask whether you get admin access to your own QuickBooks Online or Xero file, or whether the books live inside the provider's system.
- What does it cost at your size next year? Expense-based tiers and flat plans behave differently as you grow.
When neither is the right fit
Some businesses aren't a simple small business and aren't a startup either. A contractor with job costing, an agency tracking profit by client, an e-commerce brand with inventory, or a staffing firm with weekly payroll often needs industry-specific work and someone who runs the whole close.
That's where firms like ours come in. ABFI works inside your own QuickBooks Online, runs payables and receivables, closes and reviews the books every month on flat monthly plans, and adds CFO-level help when you need it. ABFI does not prepare taxes; we hand clean books to your CPA. Compare more options in Bench alternatives, Pilot alternatives and best outsourced bookkeeping services.
Switching from either
Switch at the start of a month, ask for a full export of your books and supporting documents, and confirm opening balances with the new provider before they post anything. The full checklist is in switching bookkeepers mid-year.
Keep reading
Sources
- Bench, company website and pricing, www.bench.co. Checked November 6, 2026.
- Accounting Today, "Bench acquired by Employer.com after sudden shutdown", www.accountingtoday.com/news/bench-acquired-by-employer-com-after-sudden-shutdown. Checked November 6, 2026.
- Pilot, company website, pilot.com. Checked November 6, 2026.
- NerdWallet, "Pilot Bookkeeping Review: Pricing, Features, Alternatives", www.nerdwallet.com/business/software/learn/pilot-bookkeeping. Checked November 6, 2026.
Questions owners ask
Is Bench still in business?
Yes. Bench shut down in late December 2024 and was acquired by Employer.com within days, according to Accounting Today. Check Bench's site for its current plans.
Is Pilot only for startups?
Pilot's focus is startups and growing companies. Other businesses can use it, but its strengths, like investor-ready reporting, matter most to startups.
Which is cheaper, Bench or Pilot?
It depends on your size. Pilot prices by monthly expenses, according to reviewers, and Bench uses monthly plans. Compare both at your current spending and at next year's.
Do Bench and Pilot work in QuickBooks?
Ask each provider how your books are kept and whether you get full access and a complete export. It's one of the most important questions on any provider call.
What should an established small business use instead?
If you need payables, receivables, job costing or a reviewed monthly close, look at an outsourced accounting firm that works in your own QuickBooks Online or Xero.
Not a startup, and more than simple books?
ABFI runs the accounting function for growing businesses on flat monthly plans. Start with a complimentary Business Accounting Diagnostic.