Small business owners and hopefuls have a full schedule ahead of them next week, as the Microsoft Small Business Summit kicks off Monday with online and in-person sessions at Microsoft's Redmond, WA campus. Among the speaking lineup that includes Kevin Turner (Microsoft's own COO) is the venerable Guy Kawasaki, a venture capitalist, author on and evangelist of all things technology and small business that our own sister site TUAW had a chance to interview back in January.

This Small Business Summit appears to cover the gamut of topics on a small business' table, and we aren't just talking about which version of Vista is best for your garage full of Mountain Dew-infused employees. Guy's session is titled The Art of Innovation, while other speakers will cover everything from the importance of branding to whether you need a server and even how to build a solid marketing strategy.

If these topics haven't caught the attention of the small business owner in you, there has to be something else in the 5 days of sessions that can tickle your bottom line. Besides, every session, whether online or in person, is powered by the best word of all in the business world: free.