Available at: http://office.microsoft.com/search/redir.aspx?assetID=XT102474421033&Origin=HH102504361033&CTT=5&CTT=5
Cost: Free
Runs on: Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Windows XP 

Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2008 is starter version of Microsoft’s new small business accounting program. The purpose of this version of the application is to get you used to the product, upgrade to Microsoft Office Accounting Professional, promote other complementary Microsoft products like Microsoft Office, and advertise Microsoft products and services.

What it Does

•      Track Expenses and revenue
•      Track multiple bank accounts
•      Comes with charts of accounts for many common businesses that can be modified
•      Prints plain paper quotes, invoices, and statements
•      Prints checks on check stock (that you can buy from Microsoft)
•      Manages Payroll through ADP (for a fee)
•      Accepts Credit Card Payment through Chase or PayPal (for a fee)
•      Uploads Payment Data from PayPal (Manually from a file)
•      Has some easy to customize basic reports like a Profit and Loss, and Customer Sales
•      Downloads transactions from bank accounts
•      Uploads customer and vendor and transaction data from Excel

What it doesn’t do

• Print Po’s and Track Inventory (Available on the Pro version)
• Email Invoices if you don’t have Microsoft Word

My Review

The software comes up all Microsoft. The home page is a Microsoft ‘resource’ link (Changeable in the Pro version) When you star the program you will get prompted to upgrade to the pro version, and there are ads on most of the home pages. Like Quickbooks Simple Start, it has graphical depictions of business processes to make navigating easier, but they are grouped into different categories like customers, vendors, etc. The software also follows a strict accounting process so you can’t delete transactions, only void them. If you have Microsoft Word, you can customize invoices and create create letters. If you have Microsoft Outlook you can integrate with the Outlook address book. I was a bit disappointed that you couldn’t email invoices without a copy of Microsoft Word installed. It uses a lot of computer horsepower, so it was a bit slow, but acceptable, with my 1GB, 1.2Mhz Celeron System.

Recommendation

If you are running Microsoft Office this is a good product and it has a similar look-and-feel.  You will have to spend more time with it, then Quicken Simple Start, to figure out how it works, but if want to download transactions from the bank this may be the choice for you. If your want to work fast, make sure you have a newer more powerful computer system.

Read my review of  QuickBooks Simple Start 2008 for Windows

Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Office, Microsoft Word,  and Microsoft Outlook  Accounting Express are trademarks of Microsoft, Inc.
QuickBooks Simple Start is a trademark of Intuit, Inc.

Available at: http://quickbooks.intuit.com/product/accounting-software/free-accounting-software.jhtml
Cost: Free
Runs on: Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Windows XP 

QuickBooks Simple Start is a limited functionality starter version of the every popular QuickBooks program from Intuit (the makers of Quicken Software). The purpose of this version of the application is to get you used to the product and convince you to upgrade to the more functional and much more expensive ( $199.00) QuickBooks Pro.  

What it Does

•      Track Expenses and revenue
•      Track multiple bank accounts
•      Comes with a basic chart of accounts that can be modified and expanded
•      Prints plain paper Estimates, Invoices,and Sales Receipts
•      Prints checks on check stock (that you can buy from QuickBooks)
•      Connects to the QuickBooks Payroll Service
•      Connects to the QuickBooks Merchant Service (Credit Card Processing)
•      Has some easy to customize basic reports like a Profit and Loss, and Cusomer Sales
•      Uploads customer and vendor data from Excel

What it doesn’t do

•      Convert transactions from other financial software (Available on the Pro version)
•      Print PO’s and Track Inventory (Available on the Pro version)
•      Download transactions from the bank and credit card (Available on the Pro version)

My Review

It has a nice graphical interface that follows the business process, and makes it easy to find basic daily functions without looking through menus. Most of the basic setup is self explanatory,but they do have quite a bit of help available, too. I had two issues with the software, first it was very difficult to find the checkbook reconciliation function (it was hidden under ‘For your Accountant’ on the Company menu). It also took me quite a bit of time to figure out how to setup a second bank account (you do it from the chart of accounts setup).

Recommendation

If your current financial software doesn’t handle  business processes or you don’t have any software, and you run a service based business QuickBooks Simple Start should do the job. Creating invoices, estimates, and sales receipts can make your business look very professional. You won’t be able to create PO’s and you will have to enter you own bank transitions, but the price certainly is right, and it will successfully manage your business finances.

Next Free Accounting Software to be reviewed:  Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2008

QuickBooks, QuickBooks Simple Start, QuickBooks Pro and Quicken are trademarks of Intuit, Inc.
Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Accounting Express are trademarks of Microsoft, Inc.