- Microsoft Corp. today announced the release to manufacturing of Microsoft^® Money 99 Personal & Business. This latest addition to the award-winning Microsoft Money line of finance products combines the functionality of Money 99 Financial Suite with small-business management tools. Customers can expect to see Money 99 Personal & Business available at retail outlets by the first week in January for an estimated retail price of $84.95 (U.S.).

"In a recent sole proprietor tracking study conducted by The Brand Doctors Inc. for Microsoft, we had a chance to really look into what sole proprietors want in business financial management," said Julie O'Brien, product manager for Money 99 Personal & Business at Microsoft. "According to this study, 80 percent of sole proprietors were the sole maintainers of their own business finances. The most important challenges they face when managing their business finances include categorizing income and expenses (79 percent), preparing reports or data files for taxes (68 percent), and keeping track of customers (64 percent). Microsoft built Money 99 Personal & Business to help users with these key financial tasks and many more."

Microsoft Money 99 Personal & Business was designed specifically for sole proprietors. However, most sole proprietors work from their homes (91 percent), so Money 99 Personal & Business also includes all the functionality of Money 99 Financial Suite to assist in managing the entire household's financial picture. Money 99 Financial Suite includes personalized financial planning tools with award-winning investment services and seamless Web integration. Money 99 Personal & Business includes new features designed to reduce time spent on managing the books and increase time available to manage the business:

• Business-specific income and expense categories. Based on each user's business type, Money 99 Personal & Business provides an appropriate list of income and expense categories that are already mapped to the correct lines on the Schedule C tax form for easy tracking throughout the year.

• New Category Wizard with integrated Schedule C deduction help. With the creation of each new expense category, the New Category Wizard walks the user through the key eligibility questions to determine if an expense can be deducted for tax purposes.

• Schedule C Setup and Report. The Schedule C Setup shows income and expense categories linked to the Schedule C form. Users can then easily create a Schedule C Report that shows the tax-related transactions. This can be used to fill out tax forms, work with an accountant or export to any tax preparation program.

• Create professional-looking invoices with a company logo. Professional-looking invoices can be created and printed using over 20 different templates, so users can choose the one that's right for their business. Users can also add their company logo and create a customer billing statement summarizing unpaid invoices.

• Twenty-five business reports and charts. Users can create, customize and print 25 reports and charts to generate business reports instantly and effortlessly. Available reports include a Comparison Balance Sheet, Sales Analysis by Customer, and Accounts Receivable Aging Summary.
• Track accounts receivable and payable. Users can easily track accounts receivable by customer and accounts payable by vendor.
• Products and services lists. Users can manage products and services, including hourly rate or unit charge to customer, and whether an item is taxable.
• Customers and vendor lists. This helps users easily manage contact and financial information for customers and vendors.
• Money Contact Manager (MCM). The MCM provides quick access to customer and vendor lists from the desktop, including contact and financial data such as invoice and payment information.
• Chart of accounts. This report provides an overview of all business-specific accounts grouped by assets, liabilities and equity, which comprise all of the income and expense categories that make up a small business.

From simple cash flow to planning ahead for tax time, Money Personal & Business is a first step for sole proprietors toward taking control of their unique financial situations. Money 99 Personal & Business gives sole proprietors the tools they need to help them save time and money, as well as plan for the future of their business and family finances.

Pricing and Availability

Microsoft Money 99	Estimated Retail Price	Rebate*	Availability	Online Trial**
Basic	$34.95 (U.S.)	$10	now	N/A
Financial Suite	$64.95 (U.S.)	$25	now	now
Personal & Business	$84.95 (U.S.)	$25	January 1999	January 1999

* Rebates are available for all Money 99 products acquired through Nov. 30, 1999 (valid in the 50 United States and District of Columbia only).

** A free trial version and online tour of Microsoft Money 99 Financial Suite is available for download from the Money home page at http://www.microsoft.com/money/. A free trial version and online tour of Microsoft Money 99 Personal & Business is planned to be available for download on January 1999 (connect-time charges may apply).

Promotions

• Free Internet access for two hours per month for up to one year. Users of Microsoft Money 99 Basic, Financial Suite and Personal & Business can receive free Internet access for two hours per month for up to 12 months, through Dec. 31, 1999, from MSN™ Internet Access***.
• Free six-month subscription to MSN Investor services. Microsoft Money 99 Financial Suite and Personal & Business users receive a free six-month subscription (up to $60 value) to Microsoft Investor's premium services. Microsoft Investor offer expires Dec. 31, 1999. This offer is valid in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia only.
• Free one-year Money file backup and storage from Atrieva Corp. One free year of Atrieva Online Backup Service is available to users of Microsoft Money 95, Money 97, Money 98 and Money 99 who sign up for the service before Jan. 31, 1999. Without this offer, Money customers would be charged $14.99 per month for the Atrieva Service. To sign up, visit the Money Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/money/, which provides links to the Atrieva special offer Web site at http://www.atrieva.com/partners/microsoft/money/?100595/.****

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

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Note: Microsoft Money 99 exports to any tax preparation software product that can read .txf format and Microsoft Money files, including TurboTax and TaxCut.

*** For users of Windows 95 or later operating systems only. Includes MSN Internet Access client software only. You must additionally subscribe to MSN to access the service. Offer expires Dec. 31, 1999. Two free hours per month are available through Dec. 31, 1999. Each additional hour will be billed at $2.50 per hour. After Dec. 31, 1999, customers will be charged the then-current rate for MSN standard membership plan. This offer is available to new members of MSN Internet Access in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia only. A credit card is required. MSN Internet Access premium charges, and local phone and/or long distance toll charges may apply. Local market network activity and capacity may affect access availability.

**** To back up files other than Money files, the standard Atrieva Service costs $14.99 per month for unlimited file backups and access for up to 1 GB of data.

Microsoft and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.