A finance team that's done this hundreds of times
Pilot CFOs come from operating finance roles at high-growth startups, agencies, and SMBs. They've closed rounds, navigated M&A, and run finance at companies making the same decisions you are.
350+
Rounds closed
With Pilot at the table
300+
Companies
Working with Pilot CFOs today
25
Active Raises
Pilot CFOs are supporting right now
$10B+
Raised
By Pilot CFO clients
Five moments when DIY finance stops working
If any of these sound familiar, there's a CFO engagement built for it.
Your books tell you what happened, not what to do next
Your books are clean, but the questions you're asking now go beyond them. Where's margin going? What does next year look like if you hire three people?
Your ops lead is in over their head
The person running operations is now stuck managing finance too, and it's outgrown them. A Pilot CFO works alongside them to own the model, the forecast, and the financial decisions, so they can get back to their actual job.
A fundraise or acquisition is coming and no one owns the numbers
Before a fundraise, a Pilot CFO gets the books in order, sets up the data room, builds the investment narrative, and pressure-tests the terms so you walk away with a good deal.
Your CPA doesn't know your world
You need someone who can see around corners, but your CPA works with all kinds of small businesses and yours isn't a space she knows well. A Pilot CFO has done it in companies like yours, and flags what you don't know to ask.
Growth or pressure is moving faster than you can plan for
Maybe you need to plan through a hard quarter. Maybe you're growing 30% month over month and don't know what's safe to spend. Both call for a CFO who's done it before.
Bookkeeping is the foundation. A CFO helps you build on it.
your bookkeeper
Keeps your records clean and current
Transactions categorized, months closed on time, statements ready when you need them.
your pilot cfo
Reads those numbers and helps you decide what to do next
Forecasts, pricing calls, headcount plans, board prep, fundraise support. The work that turns clean books into better decisions.
Three engagement levels.
One CFO, sized to where the business is.
Every engagement starts with a financial and operating model built around your business. From there, choose the depth that fits. Move up or down as things change.
Foundation
For pre-revenue startups and established businesses adding structured finance support for the first time. Builds the model, forecast, and monthly review cadence.
Operating model & annual budget
Revenue forecast (base / bull / bear)
Cash flow visibility & runway
Industry-specific KPI dashboard
Monthly review with your CFO
Strategic Support
For teams making decisions on pricing, hiring, and growth, with a finance partner who has made them before. The Foundation tier, plus the work that turns the model into an operating plan.
Everything in Foundation
Pricing & monetization strategy
Investor & board prep
Headcount & comp planning
Bi-weekly working sessions
Embedded Partner
Your CFO is in the room, not just on the calendar. For companies mid-fundraise, navigating an acquisition, or growing faster than finance can keep up.
Everything in Strategic
Weekly meetings & Slack access
Live fundraise / M&A support
Deeper investor & board reporting
Custom strategy & operations projects
Starting at
$1,750/mo
For a detailed look at pricing, visit our pricing page.
What a Pilot CFO does in real engagements
More outcomes
Fenwick
Fenwick ended a multi-year cash crunch with a Pilot CFO
Kompliant
Kompliant went from pre-product to a $14M seed, 14 enterprise customers, and a Fortune 500 partnership
Element5
Element5's CEO saves 15 hours per week thanks to their Pilot CFO
Facktor
Facktor Healthcare earns 20% more revenue with the same headcount
A CFO works best when Bookkeeping, Operations, and Tax are handled
Bookkeeping
Accurate, on-time books your CFO works from. Software handles the volume, and our team finalizes every close. The foundation every Pilot CFO engagement starts with.
Outsourced Operations
Payroll, AP/AR, vendor management, and expense operations. For founders who need finance and operations support from the same partner, on one bill.
Tax
R&D credits, federal and state filings, and the tax work that can fall through the cracks at a fast-moving company. Works with your CFO during year-end planning.
CFO resources for what you're working through now
Written and reviewed by Pilot's CFO team, with calculators and templates we use with customers every week.
playbook
Finance basics: from books to budget to forecast
Resource Hub • 8 articles
playbook
Growth mode: scaling spend without losing the plot
Resource Hub • 6 articles
playbook
Scaling a startup: pre-seed to Series B finance
Resource Hub • 11 articles
blog
The 3 costly mistakes Series A founders keep making
CFO Team • 7 min read
blog
The 3 costly mistakes Seed founders keep making
CFO Team • 7 min read
TOOL
Burn rate & runway calculator
Free Tool
TOOL
The annual planning playbook for SMBs
Free Download
Report
2026 SMB salary report (early look)
Free Download