Small business software provider Intuit is acquiring Homestead Technologies, a maker of tools that allow small businesses to set up a web presence, for $170 million. It’s mainly an e-commerce play, normally outside of our scope, but notable for its history, as Homestead was one of the early providers of tools to help companies and individuals easily get online. Other early players were Geocities (acquired by Yahoo) and Tripod (Lycos). Founder and CEO Justin Kitch said on his blog that the company has received 19 previous acquisition offers since its 1997 founding and that it was finally time to reward shareholders and long-term employees. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2008. Release.