We list where the alternative is the better choice. Buyers who get the comparison straight stay longer.
This is what most intercompany reconciliation runs on today, and for a three-entity group with one accountant it may stay the right answer.
| Dimension | TieOut Pilot | Excel and email |
|---|---|---|
| Matching | Rule-based, repeatable, logged | Formulas rebuilt each month; breaks when a column moves |
| Explanations | Cited to document page and line | In the accountant's head or an email |
| Audit pack | Assembled from the month's work, indexed | Rebuilt from a shared drive at year-end |
| Cost | From $0.12/RU; Practice $9k/yr | Staff time — usually the largest line nobody measures |
| When the alternative is better | — | Very small groups, one currency, one system, one accountant who stays |
Excellent for large groups that can connect every entity's ERP and want task management around the whole close. Real contract values run from about $12k to well over $40k a year (Vendr data, 2026).
| Dimension | TieOut Pilot | Close-management platforms (BlackLine, FloQast, Trintech) |
|---|---|---|
| Data source | Exports and documents, no connectors | ERP connectors; implementation project |
| Scope | Intercompany reconciliation and evidence only | Whole close: tasks, certifications, journals, flux |
| Unmatched items | Read and explained with citations | Flagged for a person to investigate |
| Buyers | Firms and mid-market groups without unified ERP | Enterprises with a central finance system |
| When the alternative is better | — | You run one ERP across all entities and need close orchestration, SOX controls and certifications |
AI-native close tools that lean on live ERP and bank integrations. Strong when the data is already structured.
| Dimension | TieOut Pilot | AI finance tools (Numeric, Ledge and similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Messy documents and exports | Live, structured data |
| Multi-entity without shared ERP | Core use case | Partial |
| Audit evidence packs | Built in | Varies |
| When the alternative is better | — | Single-ERP companies wanting continuous close automation beyond intercompany |
We are onboarding a small number of design partners with real documents and real deadlines. Tell us what you work on and we will set up a workspace with your material.