Small business accounting software

Many people dream of forging their own futures as entrepreneurs. Those who take the plunge into small business form the backbone of our economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small business accounts for 99.7% of all employers in the country.

Though it's certainly rewarding to be your own boss, it's also hard work. The daily management of a small business can be overwhelming. And as business blossoms, paper ledgers and spreadsheet programs quickly show their limitations.

Of course, accounting programs like QuickBooks can help. Though useful, full-featured accounting software is expensive. Before you buy one of these, consider Microsoft's recent release.

Microsoft's Office Accounting Express is tailored to small business. It can handle invoicing, payroll, profit and loss reporting, and more. It also includes easy access to eBay, PayPal and credit card processing services.

Office Accounting Express is compatible with other Office programs. For example, it allows you to customize forms such as invoices using Word. It can sync with contact information in Outlook. It can also work with data from QuickBooks, Money, Excel or Access.