Microsoft teams with StartupNation®

Birmingham, MI – Software pioneer Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: “MSFT”) and StartupNation, www.startupnation.com, today announced a strategic alliance to provide entrepreneurs with important financial and accounting information to help them achieve business success.

“Most of the risks that cause businesses to fail are within an entrepreneur’s control,” states Rich Sloan, StartupNation Co-founder. “As over half of all small business owners currently don’t use software to organize their accounting, we’ve teamed up with Microsoft to show entrepreneurs how technology can reduce financial and cash risks and provide solutions to the many accounting challenges entrepreneurs face every day.”*

“Our small business customers tell us that ‘Managing My Business Effectively’ is one of their key priorities,” states Cindy Bates, general manager, Microsoft Small Business. “In developing our latest product, Office Small Business Accounting 2006, we conducted extensive research with thousands of small businesses and the accounting professionals who advise them in order to build a product to meet previously unmet needs. It is the first integrated management suite for small businesses, with financial, sales and marketing software operating together to open up very powerful scenarios to increase efficiency and improve effectiveness in serving customers. Working with StartupNation gives us the opportunity to reach millions of entrepreneurs who can benefit from our products.”

Beginning in October 2005, Microsoft guest experts will offer valuable advice to the StartupNation audience via:

The nationally-syndicated StartupNation Radio program Listeners can call in and ask accounting questions to financial expert Felecia Dixson, E.A., partner, Alfermann Gray & Co., LLC. A few lucky winners will even receive a copy of Microsoft Office Small Business Management Edition during an on-air giveaway.



“Nitty Gritty” columns in the StartupNation newsletter Important tips on handling the financial side of a small business will be featured.

Podcasts
Listeners can download the radio programs to a mobile device to listen at their convenience.

“10 Steps to Open for Business”
This 10-step program and companion to the Sloan brothers’ new book, “StartupNation: Open for Business,” is available online at www.startupnation.com. It simplifies the startup process and enables entrepreneurs to access free, easy-to-use information on how to start a business via articles, audio clips and resource links, including detailed information on Microsoft Small Business Accounting 2006.

Free Trial of Microsoft Small Business Accounting Small businesses can receive a free trial of the new Microsoft Small Business Accounting 2006 by visiting www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness.

About StartupNation® and the Sloan Brothers Founded by Jeff and Rich Sloan, StartupNation (www.startupnation.com) provides business smarts for entrepreneurs who want to start and grow their own business via a multi-media platform – including a nationally-syndicated radio show, weekly online seminars and a weekly newsletter. The Sloan brothers are also the authors of “StartupNation: Open for Business,” a new book published by Doubleday. As entrepreneurial experts, the Sloans have been featured in numerous national publications and frequently appear on national cable television.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”), www.microsoft.com, is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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*AMI-Partners, 2005