Note
Release Date: 1993, specifically late 1993 for the Windows version.
Platforms: Primarily designed for Windows 3.1, with a 16-bit architecture optimized for the era's PCs.
Editions: Single edition, though some variants like 1.0a included minor bug fixes and patches.
Development Background: Great Plains Software had been building accounting tools since the 1980s, and Microsoft collaborated to adapt it for broader Windows adoption. This was part of Microsoft's early push into business applications beyond Office productivity tools, but it was overshadowed by the rapid rise of more user-friendly competitors.
Only one major version was ever released, and Microsoft quietly phased it out by the mid-1990s, redirecting focus to more successful lines like Microsoft Money (for personal finance) and the eventual Dynamics series.
Key Features
Profit 1.0 was positioned as a comprehensive, modular accounting system with a graphical interface that leveraged Windows' strengths:
Core Modules:
General Ledger: For tracking financial transactions, budgeting, and financial reporting.
Accounts Receivable/Payable: Invoice management, payments, and aging reports.
Payroll: Basic employee wage calculations, tax withholding, and direct deposit support.
Inventory: Stock tracking, purchase orders, and cost analysis.
Integration and Reporting: Built-in tools for generating balance sheets, profit/loss statements, and customizable reports. It supported data import/export in formats like ASCII and dBase for compatibility with other business software.
User Interface: A Windows-native GUI with menus, toolbars, and dialog boxes, making it more intuitive than DOS-based rivals. It included multi-user support for small networks.
Customization: Allowed for custom fields and forms via simple scripting, though it lacked the advanced extensibility of later tools.
Security: Basic password protection and audit trails to ensure compliance with accounting standards.
The software emphasized ease of setup for non-accountants, with wizards for initial configuration and sample datasets for training.
System Requirements
OS: Microsoft Windows 3.1 (or compatible, like Windows for Workgroups).
CPU: 386 or higher (486 recommended for smoother performance).
RAM: 4 MB minimum (8 MB recommended).
Storage: 10-15 MB hard disk space.
Display: VGA (640x480) or better; supported color monitors for charts and reports.
Peripherals: Optional printer for reports; mouse recommended for the GUI.
Significance and Legacy
Microsoft Profit represented an ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful foray into the competitive small business accounting market. Released during the Windows 3.1 boom, it highlighted Microsoft's strategy to bundle productivity with financial tools, but it struggled against Intuit's more polished QuickBooks (which launched around the same time) and Peachtree's established user base. Critics noted its steeper learning curve and occasional stability issues on lower-end hardware.
The software's brief lifespan underscores the challenges of entering a niche dominated by specialized vendors. Great Plains later evolved into Microsoft Dynamics GP (acquired fully by Microsoft in 2001), which became a cornerstone of Microsoft's ERP offerings. Profit 1.0's modular design influenced later accounting software, but it's largely forgotten today— a footnote in Microsoft's history of pivoting from consumer to enterprise solutions.