BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC
S-3, 1997-04-03
HELP SUPPLY SERVICES
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                                                    Registration No. 333-

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-3
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
           Maryland                                        52-0812977
(State or other jurisdiction of                (IRS Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)
                            4724 S.W. Macadam Avenue
                             Portland, Oregon 97201
                            Telephone (503) 220-0988
          (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)

                               WILLIAM W. SHERERTZ
                                    President
                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                            4724 S.W. Macadam Avenue
                             Portland, Oregon 97201
                            Telephone (503) 220-0988
           (Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)
                                   ----------
                                   Copies to:
                    Miller, Nash, Wiener, Hager & Carlsen LLP
                              111 S.W. Fifth Avenue
                           Portland, Oregon 97204-3699
                              Attn: Mary Ann Frantz
                                 (503) 224-5858
                                   ----------
         Approximate  date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From
time  to time  after  the  effective  date of  this  registration  statement  as
determined in light of market conditions and other factors.
                                   ----------
         If the only securities  being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest  reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]

         If any of the  securities  being  registered  on  this  Form  are to be
offered  on a  delayed  or  continuous  basis  pursuant  to Rule 415  under  the
Securities Act of 1933,  other than  securities  offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

         If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number  of the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

         If this  form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed  pursuant  to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act  registration   statement  number  of  the  earlier  effective  registration
statement for the same offering.  [ ]

         If delivery of the  prospectus  is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. [ ]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                  CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
============================================================================================================================
                                                       Proposed Maximum      Proposed Maximum
      Title of Each Class of         Amount to be       Offering Price           Aggregate               Amount of
    Securities to be Registered       Registered         Per Share(1)        Offering Price(1)       Registration Fee
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>                    <C>                <C>                        <C>    
 Common Stock, $.01 par value........157,443 shares        $14.00             $2,204,202              $667.94
============================================================================================================================
(1)      Estimated  solely for  purposes of  calculating  the  registration  fee
         pursuant  to Rule  457(c)  based  upon the  average of the high and low
         sales prices of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ  National  Market System
         on March 27, 1997.
</TABLE>

       The registrant hereby amends this registration  statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall
file a further  amendment  which  specifically  states  that  this  registration
statement shall  thereafter  become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities  Act of 1933 or until this  registration  statement  shall become
effective on such date as the Commission,  acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.


<PAGE>




PROSPECTUS
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]


                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.



                                 157,443 SHARES
                           --------------------------

                                  COMMON STOCK
                           --------------------------


       This Prospectus  covers 157,443 shares  ("Shares") of common stock,  $.01
par value  per share  ("Common  Stock"),  of  Barrett  Business  Services,  Inc.
("Company"),  which may be  offered  for sale  from time to time by the  selling
stockholders  ("Selling  Stockholders")  identified under "Selling Stockholders"
herein.  The  Company  will  receive no part of the  proceeds of any such sales.
Underwriting discounts and commissions will be paid by the Selling Stockholders.
By agreement, costs of registration are being borne by the Company.

       See "Plan of  Distribution"  herein  for a  description  of the manner in
which the Shares may be sold.

       The Selling  Stockholders and any broker-dealers who may participate in a
sale of the Shares may be deemed to be statutory underwriters within the meaning
of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  as  amended  ("Securities  Act"),  and  the
commissions   paid  or  discounts  or   concessions   allowed  to  any  of  such
broker-dealers  by any person,  as well as any profits received on the resale of
the  Shares  if any of such  broker-dealers  should  purchase  any  Shares  as a
principal,  may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the
Securities Act.

       The last  reported  sale  price of Common  Stock on the  NASDAQ  National
Market System on April __, 1997, was $______ per share.  Prospective  purchasers
should  obtain  current  information  regarding  the trading price of the Common
Stock.

                           --------------------------


    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
     AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
          PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
              REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


                  The date of this Prospectus is April __, 1997





<PAGE>



                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

       The  Company  is  subject  to  the  informational   requirements  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and in
accordance therewith files reports and other information with the Securities and
Exchange   Commission  (the  "Commission").   Reports,   proxy  and  information
statements  and other  information  filed by the  Company can be  inspected  and
copied at the public  reference  facilities  maintained by the Commission at 450
Fifth  Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.;  500  West  Madison  Street,  Chicago,
Illinois;  and 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York. Copies of such material
can also be obtained from the Public Reference  Section of the Commission at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,  D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Commission
maintains a Web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and
other  information  regarding  registrants  that  file  electronically  with the
Commission,  including the Company.  The address of the Commission's Web site is
http://www.sec.gov.

       This Prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 (together
with all amendments and exhibits,  the  "Registration  Statement")  filed by the
Company with the Commission  under the Securities  Act. This Prospectus does not
contain all of the information included in the Registration  Statement,  certain
parts of which are omitted in accordance  with the rules and  regulations of the
Commission.  Reference  is  made  to  the  Registration  Statement  for  further
information regarding the Company.


                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

       The Company  incorporates  herein by reference  (i) its annual  report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996,  (ii) its current report on Form
8-K dated April 2, 1997, and (iii) the description of the Common Stock contained
in Exhibit 99 to the  Company's  quarterly  report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter
ended June 30, 1994.

       All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior
to the  termination of the offering of the Common Stock to which this Prospectus
relates shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus.

       The Company will provide  without charge to each person to whom a copy of
this  Prospectus  is  delivered,  upon the  written or oral  request of any such
person, a copy of any or all the foregoing  documents  incorporated by reference
herein  (other  than  exhibits  to such  documents  which  are not  specifically
incorporated  by reference in such  documents).  Requests  should be directed to
Michael D. Mulholland, Vice President-Finance,  Barrett Business Services, Inc.,
4724 S.W. Macadam Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201, telephone (503) 220-0988.

                                   THE COMPANY

       Barrett  Business  Services,  Inc.  (the  "Company"),  is a leading human
resource  management  company.  The Company  provides  comprehensive  outsourced
solutions   addressing  the  costs  and   complexities   of  a  broad  array  of
employment-related  issues  for small  and  mid-sized  businesses.  Its range of
services  and  expertise in human  resource  management  encompasses  five major
categories: payroll processing,  employee benefits and administration,  workers'
compensation coverage, aggressive risk management and workplace safety programs,
and human resource administration,  which includes functions such as recruiting,
interviewing,   drug  testing,  hiring,  placement,   training,  and  regulatory
compliance.   These  services  are  typically  provided  through  a  variety  of
contractual arrangements,  as part of either a traditional staffing service or a
professional  employer  organization ("PEO") service.  Staffing services include
on-demand or  short-term  staffing  assignments,  long-term  or  indefinite-term
contract   staffing,    and   comprehensive    on-site   personnel    management
responsibilities.  In a PEO  arrangement,  the Company enters into a contract to
become a  co-employer  of the client  company's  existing  workforce and assumes
responsibility for some or all  personnel-related  matters. The Company provides
services to a diverse array of customers  through a network of 24 branch offices
in Oregon,  California,  Washington,  Maryland,  Delaware,  Idaho, Michigan, and
Arizona.  It also has 21 smaller  recruiting and staffing offices in its general
market areas under the direction of a branch office.

                                        2




<PAGE>




       The  Company  was  incorporated  in the state of  Maryland  in 1965.  The
Company's  principal  executive  offices  are  located at 4724 S.W.  Macadam
Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201, and its telephone number is (503) 220-0988.

                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

       The following table sets forth the name of each Selling Stockholder,  the
amount of Common Stock owned by such Selling  Stockholder at April 1, 1997, the
number of Shares to be offered by such  Selling  Stockholder  and the amount and
percentage  of  Common  Stock  to be  owned by such  Selling  Stockholder  after
completion  of the offering  assuming all the Shares are sold.  The Shares to be
offered by Herbert L. Hochberg and  Ladenburg,  Thalmann & Co. Inc. are issuable
on  exercise  of warrants  ("Warrants")  issued by the  Company for  services in
connection  with the Company's  initial public  offering of Common Stock in June
1993.  Such  Shares are  included as  presently  owned in the  following  table.
Ladenburg,  Thalmann & Co. Inc., of which Herbert L. Hochberg is an officer, was
one of the managing  underwriters of the initial public offering.  The remaining
67,443  Shares  were  issued in  connection  with the  Company's  December  1995
acquisition of Strege & Associates, Inc.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  --------------------------------------------Common Stock-------------------------------

                                                                                                       Shares
                                                                                                     To Be Owned
            Name                           Shares                         Shares                    After Offering
                                       Presently Owned                 To Be Offered              Number     Percent
                                       ---------------                 -------------              ------     -------

<S>                                         <C>                           <C>                     <C>          <C>
Herbert L. Hochberg                         35,000                        30,000                  5,000        *


Ladenburg, Thalmann                         60,000                        60,000                    --         --
& Co. Inc.

Kenneth D. Strege and                       67,443                        67,443                    --         --
Carolyn S. Strege
Living Trust

- --------------
*  Less than 1% of outstanding Common Stock.
</TABLE>

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

       The Shares may be offered  from time to time by the Selling  Stockholders
in the  over-the-counter  market at prices  and at terms then  prevailing  or at
prices related to the then current market price, or in negotiated  transactions.
Certain of the Shares may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the  Securities Act
of 1933 rather than this Prospectus.

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

       No person  has been  authorized  to give any  information  or to make any
representation  other than those contained in this Prospectus in connection with
this offering and, if given or made, such information or representation must not
be  relied  upon  as  having  been  authorized  by the  Company  or any  Selling
Stockholder.  This  Prospectus  does  not  constitute  an  offer  to  sell  or a
solicitation  of an offer to purchase any of the Shares in any  jurisdiction  to
any person to whom such offer would be  unlawful.  Neither the  delivery of this
Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall,  under any  circumstances,  create
any implication that the information herein is correct as of any time subsequent
to the date  hereof  or that  there has been no  change  in the  affairs  of the
Company since such date.

                                        3




<PAGE>



                                                      PART II
                                      INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The expenses of registration are being borne by the registrant as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                 <C>        
            Registration fee......................................................  $   667.94
            Accounting services...................................................    2,000.00*
            Legal services........................................................    5,000.00*
            Miscellaneous.........................................................      332.06*
                                                                                    ----------
                   Total..........................................................  $ 8,000.00*
                                                                                    ========== 
</TABLE>

- ----------------------
*Estimated

Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Indemnification


         Section  2-312 of the  Maryland  General  Corporation  Law (the  "Act")
provides that any director held liable for an unlawful distribution in violation
of  Section  2-311  of the  Act or the  corporation's  charter  is  entitled  to
contribution  from (i)  every  other  director  who could be held  liable  under
Section 2-312 of the Act for the unlawful distribution and (ii) each stockholder
for the amount the stockholder  accepted  knowing the  distribution  was made in
violation of Section 2-311 of the Act or the corporation's charter.

         Under  Section  2-418  of the Act,  a  person  who is made a party to a
proceeding because such person is or was an officer or director of a corporation
(an  "Indemnitee")   shall  be  indemnified  by  the  corporation   (unless  the
corporation's  charter provides  otherwise) against reasonable expenses incurred
by the  Indemnitee  in  connection  with the  proceeding  if the  Indemnitee  is
successful  on the merits or  otherwise  or if  ordered by a court of  competent
jurisdiction.  In  addition,  under said section a  corporation  is permitted to
indemnify an Indemnitee  against  liability  incurred in a proceeding unless (i)
the  Indemnitee's  act or omission was material to the matter giving rise to the
proceeding  and (a) was  committed  in bad faith or (b) was the result of active
and deliberate  dishonesty;  (ii) the Indemnitee  actually  received an improper
personal  benefit  in  money,  property,  or  services;  (iii)  in the case of a
criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act
or  omission  was  unlawful;  (iv) the  Indemnitee  was  adjudged  liable to the
corporation  in a proceeding by or in the right of the  corporation;  or (v) the
Indemnitee was adjudged liable on the basis that he or she improperly received a
personal benefit.

         As authorized  by the Act,  Article V of the  registrant's  Articles of
Amendment and  Restatement  (the "Charter")  provides that the registrant  shall
indemnify each of its officers and directors to the fullest  extent  permissible
under the Act,  as the same  exists or may  hereafter  be  amended,  against all
liabilities,  losses,  judgments,  penalties,  fines, settlements and reasonable
expenses (including attorney fees) incurred or suffered by such person by reason
of or arising from the fact that such person is or was an officer or director of
the  registrant  or is or was  serving  at the  request of the  registrant  as a
director,  officer,  partner,  trustee,  employee or agent of another foreign or
domestic corporation,  partnership,  joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan
or other  enterprise.  Such  indemnification  continues  as to a person  who has
ceased to be a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent and inures
to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, and administrators.


                                      II-1




<PAGE>



         The registrant has entered into an indemnification  agreement with each
of its  directors.  Each  such  agreement  provides  that  the  registrant  will
indemnify the director to the full extent  authorized or permitted by the Act or
any other applicable  statute or the  registrant's  Charter or Bylaws or any
amendment thereof against any obligation to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty,
fine or reasonable  expenses,  including attorney fees (any of the foregoing,  a
"Liability")  incurred  in  connection  with any  claim  (as  defined  therein),
including  a  claim  by or in the  right  of the  registrant;  provided  that no
indemnity  shall be paid by the  registrant  (i) if a final  decision by a court
having jurisdiction shall determine that such indemnification is unlawful,  (ii)
on account of acts or omissions by the  director  which are finally  adjudged to
have been not in good  faith or to have  involved  intentional  misconduct  or a
knowing  violation of law, or (iii) on account of Liability  under Section 16(b)
of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 or any similar  provision of federal or
state statutory law.

Insurance

         The registrant  maintains  directors'  and officers'  liability
insurance  under which the  registrant's  directors and officers are insured
against loss (as defined) as a result of claims brought  against them based upon
their acts or omissions in such capacities,  including civil  liabilities  under
the Securities Act of 1933.


Item 16.  Exhibits.

         The following exhibits are filed herewith:

Exhibit                             Description of Exhibit
- -------                             ----------------------

  4.1             Articles III, VI, VII and VIII of the registrant's Charter, as
                  amended.  Incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  3  to  the
                  registrant's  quarterly  report on Form  10-Q for the  quarter
                  ended June 30, 1994.

  4.2             Article I,  Sections 2 and 10 of  Article  II,  Article VI and
                  Article  VII  of  the  registrant's  Bylaws.  Incorporated  by
                  reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the registrant's  Annual Report on
                  Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.

  5               Opinion of Miller,  Nash,  Wiener,  Hager & Carlsen  LLP as to
                  validity of securities.

 23.1             Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants.

 23.2             Consent of Miller, Nash, Wiener, Hager & Carlsen LLP (included
                  in Exhibit 5).

 24               Power of attorney.

- -----------------
Other exhibits listed in Item 601 of Regulation S-K are not applicable.

Item 17.  Undertakings.

         (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:


                                      II-2




<PAGE>



                  (1) To file,  during any  period in which  offers or sales are
         being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                           (i) To include  any  prospectus  required  by Section
                  10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act");

                           (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                  arising after the effective date of the registration statement
                  (or the most recent  post-effective  amendment thereof) which,
                  individually  or in the  aggregate,  represent  a  fundamental
                  change  in the  information  set  forth  in  the  registration
                  statement;

                           (iii)  To  include  any  material   information  with
                  respect to the plan of distribution  not previously  disclosed
                  in the  registration  statement or any material change to such
                  information in the registration statement;

Provided,  however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information  required  to be  included in a  post-effective  amendment  by those
paragraphs  is  contained  in periodic  reports  filed with or  furnished to the
Commission by the  registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange  Act") that are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
         the Securities Act, each such post-effective  amendment shall be deemed
         to be a new registration  statement  relating to the securities offered
         therein,  and the  offering  of such  securities  at that time shall be
         deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from  registration by means of a  post-effective
         amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
         the termination of the offering.

         (b) The undersigned  registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining  any  liability  under  the  Securities  Act,  each  filing  of  the
registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and,  where  applicable,  each filing of an employee  benefit plan's annual
report  pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is  incorporated  by
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such
securities  at that time shall be deemed to be the  initial  bona fide  offering
thereof.

         (h)  Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons
of the  registrant  pursuant to the  provisions  described in Item 15 above,  or
otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  such  indemnification  is  against  public  policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event
that a claim  for  indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other  than the
payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling  person of the registrant in the  successful  defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered,  the registrant will, unless
in the  opinion  of its  counsel  the matter  has been  settled  by  controlling
precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction  the question whether
such  indemnification  by it is  against  public  policy  as  expressed  in  the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. The
undertaking  of the  registrant  in the  preceding  sentence  does not  apply to
insurance against liability arising under the Securities Act.

                                      II-3




<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration
statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the city of Portland,  state of Oregon, on the 2nd day of April,
1997.

                                      BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                                      (Registrant)

                                      By  /s/  Michael D. Mulholland
                                               Michael D. Mulholland
                                               Vice President-Finance

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
registration  statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities indicated as of the 2nd day of April, 1997.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    Signature                                              Title
                    ---------                                              -----

<S>                                                           <C>
         (1)  Principal Executive Officer and
              Director:

         /s/ William W. Sherertz                              President and Chief Executive
                  William W. Sherertz                         Officer and Director

         (2)  Principal Financial Officer:

         /s/ Michael D. Mulholland                            Vice President-Finance
                  Michael D. Mulholland

         (3)  Principal Accounting Officer:


         /s/ James D. Miller                                  Controller
                   James D. Miller

         (4)  A majority of the Board
              of Directors:

                  ROBERT R. AMES*                             Director
                  JEFFREY L. BEAUDOIN*                        Director
                  STEPHEN A. GREGG*                           Director
                  ANTHONY MEEKER*                             Director
                  STANLEY G. RENECKER*                        Director

</TABLE>

        *By  /s/ Michael D. Mulholland
                    Michael D. Mulholland
                      Attorney-in-fact



                                      II-4




<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit                             Description of Exhibit
- -------                             ----------------------

  4.1             Articles III, VI, VII and VIII of the registrant's Charter, as
                  amended.  Incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  3  to  the
                  registrant's  quarterly  report on Form  10-Q for the  quarter
                  ended June 30, 1994.

  4.2             Article I,  Sections 2 and 10 of  Article  II,  Article VI and
                  Article  VII  of  the  registrant's  Bylaws.  Incorporated  by
                  reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the registrant's  Annual Report on
                  Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.

  5               Opinion of Miller,  Nash,  Wiener,  Hager & Carlsen  LLP as to
                  validity of securities.

 23.1             Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants.

 23.2             Consent of Miller, Nash, Wiener, Hager & Carlsen LLP (included
                  in Exhibit 5).

 24               Power of attorney.


                                      II-5



                    MILLER, NASH, WIENER, HAGER & CARLSEN LLP
                                ATTORNEYS AT LAW
                            3500 U. S. BANCORP TOWER
                              111 S.W. FIFTH AVENUE
                           PORTLAND, OREGON 97204-3699
                            TELEPHONE (503) 224-5858
                            FACSIMILE (503) 224-0155










                                  April 2, 1997




Barrett Business Services, Inc.
4724 S.W. Macadam Avenue
Portland, Oregon  97201

                   Subject:   Registration Statement on Form S-3
                              157,443 Shares of Common Stock

Gentlemen:

                  Reference  is made to the  Registration  Statement on Form S-3
("Registration  Statement") to be filed by Barrett  Business  Services,  Inc., a
Maryland  corporation  ("Company"),  with the Securities and Exchange Commission
for the purpose of  registering  under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,
157,443 shares  ("Shares") of the common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the
Company to be  offered  and sold from time to time by the  selling  stockholders
("Selling  Stockholders")  referred to therein.  Ninety  thousand of such Shares
(the  "Warrant  Shares") are issuable on exercise of warrants held by certain of
the Selling Stockholders.

                  As counsel for the Company,  we are familiar  with the actions
taken by the  stockholders and board of directors of the Company with respect to
the  authorization  and issuance of the Shares.  We have  examined  originals or
copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such corporate
records, certificates of public officials, and other documents as we have deemed
necessary or relevant as a basis for the opinion set forth herein.

                  Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that (a) the Warrant
Shares  have  been duly  authorized  and when (i) said  warrants  have been duly
exercised and (ii) the Warrant Shares have been duly delivered  against  payment
therefor  pursuant to the terms of said  warrants,  the  Warrant  Shares will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable;  and (b) the balance of the Shares
are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.


                                                                       EXHIBIT 5


<PAGE>



Barrett Business
 Services, Inc.                      - 2 -                         April 2, 1997


                  We  consent  to the use of this  opinion  in the  Registration
Statement and in any amendments thereto.

                              Very truly yours,

                              /s/ Miller, Nash, Wiener, Hager & Carlsen LLP

                              MILLER, NASH, WIENER, HAGER & CARLSEN LLP






                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We  hereby  consent  to  the   incorporation  by  reference  in  the  Prospectus
constituting part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated
February 4, 1997,  appearing  on page 29 of Barrett  Business  Services,  Inc.'s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.


/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP
Price Waterhouse LLP



Portland, Oregon
April 2, 1997



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                  KNOW  ALL  MEN  BY  THESE  PRESENTS  that  each  person  whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints William W. Sherertz and Michael
D. Mulholland, and each of them, such person's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,  for such person
and in his name,  place and stead, in any and all such person's  capacities with
Barrett Business Services, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Corporation"),  to
sign a  registration  statement  on Form S-3 relating to the common  stock,  par
value $.01 per share, of the Corporation,  and any and all amendments (including
post-effective  amendments)  thereto,  and to file the same,  with all  exhibits
thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,  with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission  under  the  Securities  Act of 1933,  granting  unto  said
attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing  requisite and necessary to be done, as
fully to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in person,  hereby
ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents or their
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done.

                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  this power of attorney has been executed
by the undersigned as of the 11th day of February, 1997.

          Signature                                    Title
          ---------                                    -----


/s/ William W. Sherertz                President and Chief Executive
William W. Sherertz                    Officer and Director (Principal
                                       Executive Officer)

/s/ Michael D. Mulholland              Vice President-Finance
Michael D. Mulholland                  (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ James D. Miller                    Controller (Principal Accounting
James D. Miller                        Officer

/s/ Robert R. Ames                     Director
Robert R. Ames

/s/ Jeffrey L. Beaudoin                Director
Jeffrey L. Beaudoin

/s/ Stephen A. Gregg                   Director
Stephen A. Gregg

/s/ Anthony Meeker                     Director
Anthony Meeker

/s/ Stanley G. Renecker                Director
Stanley G. Renecker, Jr.





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