“Got a great business idea? Then you could win free retail space in New York City and $100,000 to get your business started.”

As good as that sounds, this post is to let you know that Microsoft is giving away free copies of Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007, whether or not you sign up for the contest. I haven’t had the opportunity to use it yet, but there are some features that look very exciting:

• Not just the look and feel of Microsoft Office, but actual integration with Word, Excel, and Outlook with Business Contact Manager
• Integration with eBay and PayPal
• Integrated online banking

Office Accounting Express 2007 is designed for small and home-based businesses, generally under 25 employees. The differences between it and Office Accounting Professional 2007 (which will be available in early 2007 for $149) appear to be in advanced accounting features. If you need to prepare quotes and sales orders; setup multiple price levels; track purchase orders; levy finance charges; or manage inventory, then wait for Professional. But many people will find that Express meets their needs very nicely.

You can find more information at the Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007 home page.