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By Matthew Murray

If you're running a company of any size, you'll need accounting software to help you track your income, expenditures, customers, and so on. But if your outfit is small, one thing you don't need to do is pay for that software—there are solid options out there that can get you the functionality you need without having to go through your AP person (or, more likely, your own wallet). These three free accounting software packages will help you keep your money and your focus where they belong: on building your business.

Our favorite—and our Editors' Choice—is Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2009 It gives you all the basic general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, online banking, sales tracking, inventory management, and reporting capabilities you need. It also integrates very well with Microsoft Office (its interface even resembles Outlook's), which makes it even easier to get your work done. You'll have to contend with a fair number of advertisements and some general sluggishness, but these minor conveniences are worth it, considering all you get.

If you don't need functionality quite that advanced, take a look at Intuit QuickBooks Simple Start Free Edition 2009 Intuit's app focuses strictly on managing money (whether coming in or going out), and is simple to use, even if you have limited knowledge of accounting concepts. It allows just 20 customers, so it's only right for very small businesses, but this easy-to-use software could be a good way to help you get your company off the ground.

Outright.com is still pretty new and lacking in some features—you can't deal with state taxes, manually enter invoices created elsewhere, or export to other tax programs—but it's got a super-clean interface that helps demystify the sometimes complicated processes of tracking income and expenses, and meeting tax obligations.

Each of these apps provides a good jumping-off point for your just-starting-out business, and will definitely help you establish yourself—and good record-keeping practices—from the get-go. When you outgrow them, or in case you already have, check out our recent roundup of for-pay midrange accounting software to help you take your business—and your profits—to the next level.

Intuit QuickBooks Simple Start Free Edition 2009

QuickBooks Simple Start Free 2009 can be a terrific tool for small businesses with fewer than 20 customers and no need to create item records. It's highly usable, strong at tracking income and expenses, and even eases you into accounts receivable and payable chores via an intuitive interface and everyday language.

Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2009

Combining an exceptional interface with capable financial management and effective integration with other programs and services (ranging from standard Microsoft Office apps to eBay and PayPal), Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2009 is an outstanding tool for small or home-based businesses.

Outright.com

Outright.com is very new and still needs development, but it's made a good start at implementing an interesting concept: It tracks income, expenses, and tax obligations, relying heavily on integration with online applications like FreshBooks, Shoeboxed, and oDesk. We just wish it were as friendly with more third-party solutions.