How to Find the Right Free Financial Program

If you operate a small business, you're going to need accounting software. Unfortunately, many of these products can take a bite out of your budget. However, there are several free small business accounting software downloads available. If you are considering downloading a free accounting program, the following will help you decide which software is the right one for your small business.

Intuit offers Free QuickBooks Simple Start (download it here). Simple Start provides basic financial management solutions. You can track expenses and income and create financial documents such as invoices and estimates.

There are some downsides to this software program. Businesses are limited to one user and 20 clients. You can't use the software for payroll unless you pay a fee. And the program does not allow you to export to Microsoft products, such as Word or Excel.

If you have a very small client base and need very basic accounting solutions, QuickBooks Simple Start Free edition may work for your business.

Another free small business accounting program is GnuCash (download it here). GnuCash is designed to be easy to use, yet powerful and flexible. It supports multiple operating systems, and will walk you through walks you through setup.

GnuCash is based on double-entry accounting, and offers many financial management solutions including: accounts receivable; accounts payable; customer and vendor tracking and invoicing; taxes and payroll. The program also offers an array of financial reports.

If you prefer the familiarity of Microsoft Office applications, you might want to check out Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007 (download it here). The freeware version allows you to manage bank accounts, payroll, and vendors, create invoices and quotes, and even built-in PayPal functionality. The program also provides you with templates for letters to clients, vendors, and more.

There is also a paid version which offers more features. Also, Office Accounting currently only supports use in the United States.

Small Business Starter Suite 1.0 (download it here) from Citrusware is a simple series of basic programs. The software allows you to create invoices and proposals and track expenses. This program doesn't offer a lot of elaborate features, but might work well for a one-person office such as a freelancer or solo contractor.

Before you install any software for your small business, do your research. While many free programs will work wonderfully for your accounting needs, sometimes you get what you pay for. Caveat emptor!