If you’re comparing Burkland and Pilot, you’re likely looking for more than bookkeeping. You want a partner that can support better decisions and scale with the business.
Both firms work with startups, but they’re built very differently. Burkland offers a highly flexible, embedded model across CFO, finance, accounting, tax, HR, and payroll, while Pilot takes a more standardized, productized approach.
The real question is fit. Burkland is built for ambitious, high-growth startups that want integrated support under one roof, more flexibility in services and tech stack, and finance leadership that can scale with the company. Pilot may appeal more to startups treating finance as a cost to contain, rather than a strategic function to build for growth.
“I was considering Pilot, but Burkland is worlds better – more cost-effective, they help educate you, and if you need something last minute they are very responsive and flexible.”
~ Meredith Harris CEO, Rivet
Burkland vs. Pilot at a Glance
| Burkland | Pilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Market focus | Built primarily for early-stage and venture-backed startups | Serves startups and small businesses |
| Best fit | Founders who want expert, hands-on support with maximum flexibility | Founders who want a more productized model |
| Services |
|
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| Contract lock-in | No annual contract required | Annual contract required |
| Flexibility | Services can easily scale up or down as needs change | More standardized plans with less flexibility |
| Tech stack | Supports major and emerging tools; custom stack guidance | Services are closely tied into a proprietary platform |
| CFO support | Fully-embedded Fractional CFO, Interim CFO, and finance leadership | CFO services, but not part-time corporate officer roles |
| HR & payroll | Dedicated HR and payroll offering | Payroll and ops support available |
| Tax depth | Broad startup tax and compliance coverage. Over $25M in R&D tax credits claimed for clients in the past year. | Tax filing, consulting, R&D credit support |
| Years in business | 22 years (founded in 2004) | 9 years (founded in 2017) |
Why do founders choose Burkland over Pilot?
Flexibility that matches the way startups grow
A startup’s needs rarely stay the same for long. Priorities shift, new pressures appear, and support needs can change quickly. Burkland is built for that reality. Founders can scale support up or down, add services when priorities shift, and get the right level of help for fundraising, tax, payroll, HR, or CFO support without being locked into a rigid structure.
No annual contract lock-in
Long-term commitments can become a burden when the business needs change. Burkland does not require an annual contract, giving founders more room to adapt as budgets, priorities, and growth plans evolve. By contrast, one of the more common frustrations Burkland hears from founders leaving Pilot is that annual commitments can feel restrictive when the business needs to move quickly.
A tech stack built around your business
Burkland supports a wide range of established and emerging finance tools, and can help founders design a tech stack that fits the business instead of forcing the business into Pilot’s more proprietary model. That gives startups ultimate freedom to choose the right systems for their stage, complexity, and growth plans, and room to adapt as those needs evolve.
Responsive support
When something needs attention, founders can’t afford to wait around. Many founders Burkland speaks with say they became frustrated with slow response times from more productized providers like Pilot, especially when they needed answers quickly, corrections made, or urgent issues resolved. Burkland is built to feel more responsive and more embedded, which matters during monthly close, fundraising, board prep, audits, and other moments when timing is critical.
Fully-integrated financial leadership
Burkland’s finance leadership model is built to stay close to company priorities, not just show up for periodic advice. That can mean shaping plans, supporting key decisions, communicating with investors, presenting to the board or supporting board meetings, and joining staff meetings when needed. As a company grows, that continuity becomes increasingly valuable in high-stakes moments. Pilot offers CFO services too, but explicitly says those services do not include part-time corporate officer roles. For startups that want finance leadership that feels more deeply embedded in the business, Burkland stands out.
Built specifically for growth-oriented startups
Working with startups is one thing. Spending more than two decades focused on venture-backed growth is another. For more than 22 years, Burkland has worked alongside high-growth companies through changing markets, shifting investor expectations, and multiple startup cycles. That gives founders a partner with a broad perspective on how startups scale and what investors expect.
A partner investors know and trust
With 60+ venture capital partners and clients that have collectively raised $22.2B+ in funding, Burkland brings real standing in the venture ecosystem. That credibility, combined with a broader extended network and regular work with VC-referred portfolio companies, gives founders a partner who already understands the pace, expectations, and realities of venture-backed growth.
Burkland vs. Pilot, the bottom line
Burkland is built for venture-backed startups that expect their finance function to scale with the business. It offers a more embedded, flexible model across CFO, finance, accounting, tax, HR, and payroll, with the leadership depth to support fundraising, due diligence, board meetings, investor communication, audits, and the added complexity that comes with growth. Pilot may work well for startups with simpler needs and a more standardized approach. For companies with bigger growth plans, more moving parts, and higher investor expectations, Burkland is usually the stronger fit.
✈️ Ready to fly away from Pilot?
If you’re a current Pilot customer, Burkland can make the transition fast and easy. In many cases, the move can be completed in two weeks, with Burkland managing most of the work and keeping demands on your team low. Contact us to request more information.