Microsoft Launches Enhanced Financial Apps For SMBs

Microsoft Business Solutions Small Business Financials North America Edition is a re-branded and enhanced version of the Microsoft Business Solutions Small Business Manager, officials with the Redmond, Wash., software maker said.

The accounting and business management software targets U.S. and Canadian businesses with 10 to 49 employees. The new version includes more capabilities for customizing reports, streamlining order processing and inventory management, and automating data backups.

In addition, Small Business Financials can import data from other applications, such as QuickBooks and Peachtree, and provides a "seamless upgrade path" from Microsoft Office for Small Business Management edition, when that software becomes available in the fall.

Small Business Financials runs on Microsoft Small Business Server 2003.

"Microsoft Small Business Financials complements the upcoming Microsoft Office for Small Business Management edition by providing a logical growth option for those businesses that require the additional functionality of an entry-level system or a move to a server-based infrastructure," Jeff Young, general manager of Microsoft Business Solutions, said in a statement. "In addition, users of Microsoft Small Business Financials can continue to scale with Microsoft Business Solutions as their business requires through the seamless upgrade from Microsoft Small Business Financials to Microsoft Business Solutions - Great Plains."

Microsoft Small Business Financials is available as of Wednesday in the U.S. and Canada.