You can create databases of customers and vendors in detailed boilerplate forms. The only downsides are the slowness of the interface and the series of toggling, flashing ads in the screen's lower section (which help keep the software free). Traditional pull-down menus are also available.

If you need to find customers, items, or other data, you'll find links for those searches, too. The center of the screen changes to display a process map that illustrates that area's workflow, with links to other tasks below. Click one, such as Customers, and the links above it change to reflect related tasks, like New Invoice and Credit Card Processing. Horizontal tabs at the bottom give access to the program's main functional areas. Its left vertical pane resembles the scheme used by Microsoft Outlook. Office Accounting Express has a top-notch interface and navigational tools. It's the most capable-and traditional-free accounting software program on the market. It lacks the professional version's multi-user capabilities, budgeting, purchase orders, and cash flow forecasting, but it has solid general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, online banking, sales tracking, and report capabilities, in addition to tight integration with Microsoft Office. But if you're just starting out, the free Office Accounting Express 2009 is the way to go. If you need fine-tuned control over every aspect of your firmly established business, go for the $199.95 Professional version. It took Microsoft many tries to create the right small business accounting program, but with Microsoft Office Accounting, it has.

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Microsoft accounting software 2009