I started off with an Access database. Then we split the JET DB backend out from the front end and put that on a shared drive. Then we replaced the backend with SQL Server (without changing the front end.) Then eventually it all got migrated to an ASP.Net backend + single page application. It's still running 8 years later. Access is an incredibly flexible tool.
ServiceStack is just plain awesome when it comes to developing web services, though it's gone commercial for v4 onward. Nancy is another popular alternative - it's basically Sinatra for .Net. Every time I go back to WCF I want to stab myself in the face.