Fargo, ND. - December 5, 2002 - Microsoft Business Solutions today announced the availability of Microsoft® Business Solutions Small Business Manager 7.0, an affordable, integrated software application developed specifically to help small businesses efficiently manage a broad range of business functions.

Microsoft Business Solutions Small Business Manager 7.0 enables small businesses to increase productivity and realize maximum flexibility through streamlined sales and purchasing, inventory control, tight fiscal control, and enhanced integration.
“You shouldn’t have to compromise just because you’re a small business,” said Ruth Mondragon, chief financial officer of a LaMar’s Donuts International Inc. franchise in Pueblo, Colo., who recently upgraded to Small Business Manager 7.0. With 42 employees, two stores and plans to expand in the near future, Mondragon needed technology that was affordable and easy to use and provided a consolidated view across her company’s multiple locations and systems. “The product is very cost-effective for a small company,” Mondragon said. “And it is so easy to use. I can just look at financials and know exactly where we’re at in each store.”
With ensured protection of business information and award-winning support and training, Microsoft Business Solutions Small Business Manager 7.0 also delivers exceptional peace of mind.

“Throughout the development process of Small Business Manager 7.0, we gathered feedback and suggestions from our partner network and a wide variety of small businesses. We made their priorities our priorities,” said Jonathan Weinstein, director of small business product management at Microsoft Business Solutions. “The result is a solution with the flexibility and power small businesses need to succeed in an increasingly challenging marketplace.”

Features
Built for small businesses that need more than basic bookkeeping software, Microsoft Business Solutions Small Business Manager 7.0 includes new features to help small businesses better manage various functions, including the following:

• Streamlined sales and purchasing. With sales and purchasing capabilities that integrate with inventory functionality, Small Business Manager 7.0 delivers integrated quotes, sales orders, invoices, statements and payments that let small businesses manage the complete customer life cycle. To manage the vendor life cycle, Small Business Manager 7.0 offers integrated purchase orders, item receipts and payment processes.

• Inventory control. The inventory control features in Small Business Manager 7.0 integrate with sales, purchasing and financial tasks. Businesses can choose from multiple cost methods, assign multiple price levels to an item, track serial and lot numbers, manage kits, run physical inventory checklists, track costs and quantities, and perform adjustments.

• Tight fiscal control. Small Business Manager 7.0 lets small businesses track and forecast cash flow, control fiscal closing periods, post transactions to the correct fiscal year, and electronically file payroll information with the government.

• Enhanced integration. The integration capabilities of Small Business Manager 7.0 make it easy for small businesses to import records and transactions with a wizard-based tool and to export data and reports to Microsoft Excel and other applications. Additional capabilities for integrating industry-specific software created by authorized solution developers also are available.

In addition to new features, Small Business Manager 7.0 includes integrated modules that allow small businesses to more efficiently manage financial, banking, inventory, sales, purchasing, U.S. payroll, and reporting and analysis functions. Small Business Manager 7.0 offers small businesses additional ease and efficiency by working hand in hand with Microsoft Office, Microsoft bCentral™ Web services and other business applications.