Ottit vs Pilot
Pilot is a US bookkeeping, tax and CFO firm for startups and small businesses, with plans from $99 a month (AI-categorized cash books) and $299 a month (a US-based bookkeeper, cash or accrual, reports on the 10th business day). Ottit is an ecommerce and CPG accounting firm that reconciles Shopify, Amazon and Stripe payouts, books inventory and COGS and closes monthly inside your own QuickBooks Online or Xero, from $595 a month.
Ecommerce specialist- Your own QuickBooks Online or Xero
- Payouts, inventory, COGS and marketplace tax
- Dedicated accountant, financials by the 15th
Alternative - Pilot's ledger by default; keeping your QBO is a Custom-plan feature
- Startup generalist; connects payment platforms and inventory on Core
Trusted by 100+ of your favorite DTC & CPG brands
8 things a Shopify or Amazon brand should compare
| Criterion |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $595/mo cash basis, $995/mo accrual | $99/mo Essentials (AI books), from $299/mo Core billed annually |
| Where your books live | Your own QuickBooks Online or Xero, every plan | Pilot's ledger by default; keeping your QBO is a Custom-plan feature |
| Ecommerce specialization | Payouts, inventory, COGS, marketplace tax, channel margin | Startup generalist; connects payment platforms and inventory on Core |
| Reporting deadline | Financials by the 15th of the month, often sooner | 10th business day (Core), 6th (Custom) |
| Tax services | Year-end package for your CPA, then the books are tied to the filed return | Business tax filing from $1,000–$2,450+/yr, R&D credits at 20% of credit |
| CFO / controllership | Controllership & Fractional CFO plan from $5,995/mo | CFO plans $1,750–$5,250+/mo billed annually |
| Support | Dedicated accountant on Slack | In-app, email and phone from a dedicated team on Core |
| Who it is built for | Ecommerce, CPG and SaaS operators $1M–$95M | Startups and small businesses, pre-revenue to growth |
Pilot is the stronger choice for a venture-backed software startup that wants bookkeeping, tax and CFO under one roof at a lower entry price.
Ottit is the stronger choice for a brand that sells physical products through Shopify, Amazon or retailers and needs the books to reflect payouts, inventory and channel margin.
Competitor facts from their own pricing page, read 2026-09-29.
Our previous CPA wrecked our books. Ottit saved us, got us back on track, and prevented a $30,000 tax overpayment. Without them, we'd have no visibility or process. Highly recommend their team!
Where each one fits
- PilotVenture-backed SaaS startups that need R&D credits and Delaware franchise tax: Pilot
- OttitShopify, Amazon and wholesale brands with inventory: Ottit
- OttitCompanies that want to keep their existing QuickBooks file on every plan
- OttitFounders who want Slack access to a named accountant
"They specialize in e-commerce businesses, and we had outgrew the small local accountant in our area. Ottit caught many things our previous accountant missed."
"Ottit is the only firm I've ever trusted with our books. They're reliable, timely, and have always gone a step ahead to help us out. From e-commerce to media they've been the best in class."
QuickBooks Online
Xero
Bill.com
StripeQuickBooks OnlineXeroBill.comStripeDoes Pilot do ecommerce bookkeeping?
Pilot's Core plan pulls from payment platforms and inventory, but Pilot's positioning and pricing page are built around startups (tax for C-corps, CFO services, stock administration). It does not publish ecommerce-specific work like payout reconciliation or marketplace tax.
Can I keep my QuickBooks file with Pilot?
Pilot's pricing page lists 'keep your existing QuickBooks account and historical data' as a Custom-plan feature. Ottit works in your QBO or Xero on every plan.
How do the prices compare?
Pilot starts lower: $99 a month for AI-categorized cash books and $299 a month billed annually for a bookkeeper. Ottit starts at $595 a month, which includes payout-level reconciliation and channel reporting a generalist plan does not.
Which is better for a DTC brand raising a round?
Both produce accrual financials. Pilot adds CFO packages from $1,750 a month; Ottit's Controllership & Fractional CFO plan from $5,995 a month includes controllership, AP/AR management and forecasting, with ecommerce-specific margin reporting.
