BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC
10-K, 1998-03-31
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    Form 10-K
                Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
                         Commission File Number 0-21886

                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                      Maryland                 52-0812977
            (State or other jurisdiction    (I.R.S. Employer
                         of                Identification No.)
                  incorporation or
                    organization)
                                                 97201
               4724 SW Macadam Avenue          (Zip Code)
                  Portland, Oregon
                (Address of principal
                 executive offices)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (503) 220-0988
        Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                     Common Stock, Par Value $.01 Per Share
                                (Title of class)

        Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No --

        Indicate by check mark if disclosure of  delinquent  filers  pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,
to the best of  registrant's  knowledge,  in  definitive  proxy  or  information
statements  incorporated  by  reference  in Part  III of this  Form  10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K.  ---

        State  the   aggregate   market  value  of  the  voting  stock  held  by
non-affiliates of the Registrant: $53,155,434 at February 27, 1998

        Indicate the number of shares  outstanding  of each of the  Registrant's
classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

                 Class                     Outstanding at February 27, 1998
Common Stock, Par Value $.01 Per Share               6,743,563 Shares

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

      Portions of the definitive  Proxy Statement for the 1998 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders are hereby incorporated by reference into Part III of Form 10-K.


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<PAGE>
                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                         1997 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
                                     PART I

Item 1.     Business                                                           2

Item 2.     Properties                                                        11

Item 3.     Legal Proceedings                                                 11

Item 4.     Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders               12

            Executive Officers of the Registrant                              13

                                     PART II

Item 5.     Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder
            Matters                                                           14

Item 6.     Selected Financial Data                                           15

Item 7.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
            Results of Operations                                             16

Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk        22

Item 8.     Financial Statements and Supplementary Data                       22

Item 9.     Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and
            Financial Disclosure                                              22

                                    PART III

Item 10.    Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant                23

Item 11.    Executive Compensation                                            23

Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management    23

Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions                    23

                                     PART IV

Item 14.    Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K   24

Signatures                                                                    25

Financial Statements                                                         F-1

Exhibit Index

                                       1
<PAGE>


                                     PART I

ITEM 1.     BUSINESS
- --------------------

GENERAL
        Barrett  Business  Services,  Inc.  ("Barrett"  or the  "Company"),  was
incorporated  in the state of  Maryland  in 1965.  Barrett  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 businesses of all sizes. Employers are faced with
increasing  complexities in employment laws and regulations,  employee  benefits
and  administration,  federal,  state  and  local  payroll  tax  compliance  and
mandatory  workers'  compensation  coverage,  as  well  as the  recruitment  and
retention  of quality  employees.  The Company  believes  that  outsourcing  the
management of various  employer and human resource  responsibilities,  which are
typically considered non-core functions, enables organizations to focus on their
core competencies, thereby improving operating efficiencies.

        Barrett's  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 of the  human  resource
management  responsibilities.  The Company's  target PEO clients  typically have
limited  resources  available to effectively  manage these matters.  The Company
believes  that its  ability  to offer  clients a broad mix of  staffing  and PEO
services differentiates it from its competitors and benefits its clients through
(i) lower  recruiting  and personnel  administration  costs,  (ii)  decreases in
payroll expenses due to lower workers'  compensation and health insurance costs,
(iii)  improvements  in  workplace  safety  and  employee  benefits,  (iv) lower
employee  turnover  and (v)  reductions  in  management  resources  expended  in
labor-related  regulatory  compliance.  For  1997  Barrett's  staffing  services
revenues represented 55.2% of total revenues, compared to 44.8% for PEO services
revenues.

        Barrett  provides  services to a diverse array of customers,  including,
among others, electronics manufacturers, various light-manufacturing industries,
forest products and  agriculture-based  companies,  transportation  and shipping
enterprises,  food processing,  telecommunications,  public  utilities,  general
contractors  in numerous  construction-related  fields and various  professional
services  firms.   During  1997,  the  Company  provided  staffing  services  to
approximately  5,400  customers.  Although a majority of the Company's  staffing
customers are small to mid-sized businesses, during 1997 approximately 40 of the
Company's  customers  have each utilized  Barrett  employees in a number ranging
from at least  200  employees  to as many as  1,800  employees  through  various
staffing services arrangements.  In addition,  Barrett had approximately 654 PEO
clients at December 31, 1997,  compared to 780 at December 31, 1996. The decline
in the number of PEO clients in 1997 as compared to 1996  reflects the Company's
disciplined adherence to its safe-work policies and credit policies.

        The Company  operates  through a network of 24 branch offices in Oregon,
California, Washington, Maryland, Delaware, Idaho, Arizona and Michigan. Barrett
also has 22 smaller  recruiting  offices in its general  market  areas under the
direction of a branch office.

                                       2
<PAGE>


OPERATING STRATEGIES
        The  Company's  principal  operating  strategies  are to: (i)  promote a
decentralized and autonomous management philosophy and structure,  (ii) motivate
employees through wealth sharing, (iii) leverage zone and branch level economies
of scale, (iv) provide a unique and efficient blend of staffing and PEO services
and (v) control workers' compensation costs through effective risk management.

GROWTH STRATEGIES
        The Company's  principal  growth  strategies  are to: (i) expand through
acquisitions of human resource-related businesses in new and existing geographic
markets,  (ii) ensure  acquisitions  are fully  aligned with zone  management to
strengthen   and  expand   operations,   (iii)  continue  to  support  the  full
implementation  of  operational  line  authority  through zone managers and (iv)
enhance  management  information  systems  to  support  continued  growth and to
improve customer services.

RECENT ACQUISITIONS
        Effective   February  1,  1997,  the  Company   acquired  D&L  Personnel
Department  Specialists,  Inc., dba HR Only, a staffing  services  company which
specializes  in human  resource  professionals  with  offices in Los Angeles and
Garden  Grove,  California.  The Company paid  $1,800,000 in cash for all of the
outstanding  common  stock of HR Only  and  $1,200,000  in cash  for  noncompete
agreements with certain  individuals,  of which  $1,000,000 will be deferred for
five years and then be paid ratably over the  succeeding  five-year  period.  HR
Only's  revenues for the fiscal year ended  January 31, 1997 were  approximately
$4.3 million.

        Effective  April 13, 1997,  the Company  acquired  certain assets of JRL
Services,  Inc.,  dba TLC  Staffing,  a provider of clerical  staffing  services
located in Tucson,  Arizona. TLC Staffing had revenues of approximately $800,000
(unaudited)  for the year ended  December 31, 1996. The Company paid $150,000 in
cash for the assets and assumed an $18,000 office lease liability.

        The Company reviews acquisition opportunities on an ongoing basis. While
growth through acquisition is a major element of the Company's overall strategic
growth plan, there can be no assurance that any additional  acquisitions will be
completed in the foreseeable future, or that any future acquisitions will have a
positive effect on the Company's  performance.  Acquisitions involve a number of
potential  risks,  including  the  diversion  of  management's  attention to the
assimilation of the operations and personnel of the acquired companies, exposure
to workers'  compensation and other costs in differing regulatory  environments,
adverse  short-term effects on the Company's  operating results,  integration of
management  information  systems and the  amortization  of  acquired  intangible
assets.

THE COMPANY'S SERVICES
        Overview of Services.  The Company  offers a continuum of human resource
management  services to its clients.  While some  services  are more  frequently
associated with Barrett's co-employer  arrangements,  the Company's expertise in
such areas as safety services and  personnel-related  regulatory  compliance may
also be utilized by its staffing services  customers through the Company's human
resource management  services.  The Company's range of services and expertise in
human resource management encompasses five major categories:

        -      Payroll  Processing.  For both  the  Company's  PEO and  staffing
               services employees, the Company performs all functions associated
               with payroll  administration,  including preparing and delivering
               paychecks,  computing  tax  withholding  and payroll  deductions,
               handling  garnishments,  computing  vacation  and sick  pay,  and
               preparing W-2 forms and accounting  reports  through  centralized
               operations at its headquarters in Portland, Oregon.

                                       3
<PAGE>


        -      Employee  Benefits and  Administration.  As a result of its size,
               Barrett  is  able  to  offer  employee  benefits  which  are  not
               available  at an  affordable  cost  to  many  of  its  customers,
               particularly those with fewer than 100 employees.  These benefits
               include health care  insurance,  a 401(k) savings plan, a Section
               125  cafeteria  plan,  life  and  disability  insurance,   claims
               administration and a nonqualified deferred compensation plan.

        -      Safety  Services.  Barrett  offers  safety  services  to both its
               staffing services and PEO customers in keeping with its corporate
               philosophy  of "making the  workplace  safer." The Company has at
               least one risk manager available at each branch office to perform
               workplace  safety  assessments  for each of its  customers and to
               recommend  actions to achieve  safer  operations.  The  Company's
               services  include  safety  training  and safety  manuals for both
               workers   and   supervisors,   job-site   visits  and   meetings,
               improvements  in workplace  procedures  and  equipment to further
               reduce the risk of  injury,  compliance  with OSHA  requirements,
               environmental  regulations,  and workplace regulation by the U.S.
               Department   of   Labor   and   state   agencies   and   accident
               investigations.   As  discussed  under   "Self-Insured   Workers'
               Compensation   Program"  below,  the  Company  also  pays  safety
               incentives to its customers who achieve improvements in workplace
               safety.

        -      Workers'  Compensation  Coverage.  Beginning in 1987, the Company
               acquired  self-insured  employer status for workers' compensation
               coverage  in Oregon and is  currently  a  qualified  self-insured
               employer in many of the state and federal  jurisdictions in which
               it  operates.  Through its  third-party  administrators,  Barrett
               provides  claims  management  services to its PEO  customers.  As
               discussed  under  "Self-Insured  Workers'  Compensation  Program"
               below,  the  Company  aggressively  manages  job  injury  claims,
               including   identifying   fraudulent  claims  and  utilizing  its
               staffing services to return workers to active employment earlier.
               As a result of its ability to manage workers' compensation costs,
               the Company is often able to reduce its clients' overall expenses
               arising out of job-related injuries and insurance.

        -      Human  Resource  Administration.  Barrett  offers its clients the
               opportunity    to   leverage   the   Company's    experience   in
               personnel-related regulatory compliance. For both its PEO clients
               and for  staffing  services  employees,  the Company  handles the
               burdens of advertising,  recruitment,  skills testing, evaluating
               job  applications  and references,  drug screening,  criminal and
               motor vehicle records reviews,  hiring,  and compliance with such
               employment  regulatory  areas as immigration,  the Americans with
               Disabilities Act, and federal and state labor regulations.

        Staffing  Services.  Barrett's  staffing  services include  on-demand or
short-term staffing assignments, contract staffing, long-term or indefinite-term
on-site  management  and  human  resource  administration.  Short-term  staffing
involves employee demands caused by such factors as seasonality, fluctuations in
customer  demand,  vacations,  illnesses,  parental leave,  and special projects
without  incurring  the  ongoing  expense  and  administrative  responsibilities
associated with recruiting, hiring and retaining additional permanent employees.
As more and more companies focus on cost-cutting and reducing overhead,  the use
of employees on a  short-term  basis allows firms to utilize the  "just-in-time"
approach to their personnel needs,  thereby  converting a portion of their fixed
personnel costs to variable expense.

        Contract  staffing  refers  to the  Company's  responsibilities  for the
placement of employees  for a period of more than three months or an  indefinite
period. This type of arrangement often involves outsourcing an entire department
in a large corporation or providing the manpower for a large project.

        In an on-site  management  arrangement,  Barrett  places an  experienced
manager on site at a customer's  place of business.  The manager is  responsible
for conducting all  recruiting,  screening,

                                       4
<PAGE>


interviewing, testing, hiring and employee placement functions at the customer's
facility for a long-term or indefinite period.

        The Company's  staffing  services  customers operate in a broad range of
businesses,   including   forest  products  and   agriculture-based   companies,
electronic   manufacturers,   transportation   and  shipping   companies,   food
processors,  professional  firms and  construction  contractors.  Such customers
range in size from  small  local  firms to large  national  companies  which use
Barrett's  services on a local basis.  None of the Company's  staffing  services
customers individually accounted for more than 10% of its total 1997 revenues.

        In 1997, light industrial  workers  generated  approximately  70% of the
Company's staffing services revenues,  while technical  personnel  accounted for
18% of such revenues and clerical  office staff  represented the balance of 12%.
Light industrial workers in the Company's employ perform such tasks as operation
of machinery, manufacturing,  loading and shipping, site preparation for special
events,  construction-site cleanup and janitorial services.  Technical personnel
include  electronic  parts  assembly  workers  and  designers  and  drafters  of
electronic parts.

        Barrett  emphasizes prompt,  personalized  service in assigning quality,
trained,  drug-free  personnel at  competitive  rates to its  staffing  services
customers.  The Company uses internally developed computer databases of employee
skills and  availability  at each of its branches to match  customer  needs with
available  qualified  employees.  The Company  emphasizes the  development of an
understanding  of the  unique  requirements  of  its  clientele  by its  account
managers.  Customers are offered a "money-back"  guarantee if dissatisfied  with
staffing employees placed by Barrett.

        The Company  utilizes a variety of methods to recruit its  workforce for
staffing  services,  including  among others,  referrals by existing  employees,
newspaper  advertising  and  marketing  brochures  distributed  at colleges  and
vocational  schools.  The employee  application  process  includes an interview,
skills  assessment  test,  reference   verification  and  drug  screening.   The
recruiting of qualified  employees  requires more effort when unemployment rates
are low.

        Barrett's  staffing services  employees are not under its direct control
while  placed  at  a  customer's  worksite.  Barrett  has  not  experienced  any
significant  liability due to claims arising out of negligent acts or misconduct
by its staffing services employees.  The possibility exists,  however, of claims
being  asserted  against the Company  which may exceed the  Company's  liability
insurance coverage,  which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.

        PEO Services. Many businesses,  particularly those with a limited number
of employees,  find personnel  administration  requirements to be unduly complex
and time  consuming.  These  businesses  often  cannot  justify the expense of a
full-time human resources staff. In addition, the escalating costs of health and
workers'  compensation  insurance in recent  years,  coupled with the  increased
complexity  of laws and  regulations  affecting  the  workplace,  have created a
compelling  motivation  for small to mid-sized  businesses  to  outsource  these
managerial  burdens.  The outsourcing of non-core  business  functions,  such as
human resource administration, enables small enterprises to devote their limited
resources to their core competencies.

        In a PEO services arrangement,  Barrett enters into a contract to become
a  co-employer  of the client  company's  existing  workforce.  Pursuant to this
contract,  Barrett assumes  responsibility for some or all of the human resource
management  responsibilities,  including  payroll  and payroll  taxes,  employee
benefits,  health insurance,  workers' compensation  coverage,  workplace safety
programs, compliance with federal and state employment laws, labor and workplace
regulatory  requirements and related  administrative  responsibilities.  Barrett
also hires and fires its PEO  employees,  although  the client  company  remains
responsible  for day-to-day  assignments,  supervision and training and, in most
cases, recruiting.

                                       5
<PAGE>


        The Company began offering PEO services to Oregon  customers in 1990 and
expanded  these  services  to  Maryland  and  Washington  in the first and third
quarters,  respectively,  of 1994,  to  Delaware  and  California  in the second
quarter of 1995,  and to Idaho and Arizona in 1996. The Company has entered into
co-employer  arrangements  with a wide variety of clients,  including  companies
involved  in moving and  shipping,  professional  firms,  construction,  retail,
manufacturing  and distribution  businesses.  PEO clients are typically small to
mid-sized businesses with up to 100 employees. None of the Company's PEO clients
individually  accounted  for more than 5% of its total  annual  revenues  during
1997.

        Prior to entering into a co-employer  arrangement,  the Company performs
an analysis of the potential client's actual personnel and workers' compensation
costs based on  information  provided by the customer.  Barrett  introduces  its
workplace safety program and recommends improvements in procedures and equipment
following a safety  inspection of the customer's  facilities which the potential
client must agree to implement as part of the co-employer  arrangement.  Barrett
also  offers  significant  financial  incentives  to PEO  clients to  maintain a
safe-work environment.

        The Company's  standard PEO services agreement provides for services for
an indefinite  term,  until notice of termination is given by either party.  The
agreement  permits  cancellation by either party upon 30 days written notice. In
addition,  the Company may  terminate  the  agreement at any time for  specified
reasons,  including  nonpayment or failure to follow Barrett's  workplace safety
program.

        The form of agreement also provides for  indemnification  of the Company
by the client  against losses arising out of any default by the client under the
agreement,  including failure to comply with any employment-related,  health and
safety or immigration laws or regulations.  The Company also requires the client
to maintain  comprehensive  liability  coverage in the amount of $1,000,000  for
acts of its worksite  employees.  In addition,  the Company has excess liability
insurance  coverage in the amount of $2,000,000 per occurrence and policy limits
of $5,000,000 in the aggregate.  Although no claims exceeding such policy limits
have been paid by the Company to date,  the  possibility  exists that claims for
amounts in excess of sums available to the Company  through  indemnification  or
insurance  may be asserted in the  future,  which could have a material  adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

SALES AND MARKETING
        The  Company  markets  its  services   primarily  through  direct  sales
presentations  by its branch office account  managers.  The Company also obtains
referrals  from  existing  clients and other  third  parties,  and places  radio
commercials  and  advertisements  in  various   publications,   including  local
newspapers and the Yellow Pages.  Barrett  believes that it is able to offer its
services  at  competitive  rates  due to the  lower  costs  associated  with its
self-insured workers' compensation program when compared to the cost of workers'
compensation insurance. See "Self-Insured Workers' Compensation Program" below.

BILLING
        Through  centralized   operations  at  the  Company's   headquarters  in
Portland, Oregon, the Company prepares invoices weekly for its staffing services
customers and following the end of each payroll  period for PEO clients.  Health
insurance  premiums are passed  through to PEO clients.  The Company  requires a
deposit from its PEO clients to cover one payroll period plus gross margin.

SELF-INSURED WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAM
        A principal  service provided by Barrett to its customers,  particularly
its PEO clients, is workers'  compensation  coverage. As the employer of record,
Barrett is responsible for complying with applicable statutory  requirements for
workers' compensation  coverage.  The Company's workplace safety services,  also
described  under "Overview of Services," are closely tied to its approach to the
management of workers' compensation risk.

                                       6
<PAGE>


        Elements of Workers'  Compensation  System.  State law (and, for certain
types of employees,  federal law) generally  mandates that an employer reimburse
its  employees  for the costs of medical care and other  specified  benefits for
injuries  or  illnesses  incurred  in the  course and scope of  employment.  The
benefits  payable  for  various  categories  of claims are  determined  by state
regulation  and vary with the  severity  and nature of the injury or illness and
other  specified  factors.  In return for this guaranteed  protection,  workers'
compensation is an exclusive  remedy and employees are generally  precluded from
seeking other damages from their  employer for workplace  injuries.  Most states
require  employers  to maintain  workers'  compensation  insurance  or otherwise
demonstrate financial  responsibility to meet workers' compensation  obligations
to employees.  In many states,  employers  who meet certain  financial and other
requirements are permitted to self-insure.

        Self Insurance for Workers' Compensation. In August 1987, Barrett became
a  self-insured  employer  for  workers'  compensation  coverage in Oregon.  The
Company has  subsequently  obtained  self-insured  employer  status for workers'
compensation  in four  additional  states,  Maryland,  Washington,  Delaware and
California.  In  addition,  in May 1995,  the Company  was granted  self-insured
employer  status  by the U.S.  Department  of Labor  for  longshore  and  harbor
("USL&H") workers' compensation  coverage.  Regulations  governing  self-insured
employers in each jurisdiction typically require the employer to maintain surety
deposits of cash,  government securities or other financial instruments to cover
workers' claims in the event the employer is unable to pay for such claims.

        Barrett also maintains excess workers' compensation insurance for single
occurrences exceeding $350,000 (except for $300,000 in Maryland and $500,000 for
USL&H coverage) with statutory limits (i.e., in unlimited  amounts)  pursuant to
annual policies with major insurance companies.  The  excess-insurance  policies
contain standard exclusions from coverage,  including punitive damages, fines or
penalties in connection  with  violation of any statute or regulation and losses
covered by other insurance or indemnity provisions.

        In addition,  the Company has  implemented  an insured  large-deductible
program which allows it to become insured for workers'  compensation coverage in
nearly all  states  where the extent of the  Company's  operations  does not yet
warrant the investment to become a self-insured employer.

        Claims  Management.  Pursuant to its self-insured  status, the Company's
workers'  compensation expense is tied directly to the incidence and severity of
workplace  injuries to its  employees.  Barrett  seeks to contain  its  workers'
compensation  costs through an  aggressive  approach to claims  management.  The
Company uses  managed-care  systems to reduce medical costs and keeps  time-loss
costs  to  a  minimum  by  assigning  injured  workers,  whenever  possible,  to
short-term assignments which accommodate the workers' physical limitations.  The
Company  believes that these  assignments  minimize both time actually lost from
work  and  covered  time-loss  costs.   Barrett  has  also  engaged  third-party
administrators  ("TPAs")  to provide  additional  claims  management  expertise.
Typical management  procedures  include  performing  thorough and prompt on-site
investigations  of  claims  filed  by  employees,  working  with  physicians  to
encourage efficient medical management of cases, denying questionable claims and
negotiating  early  settlements to eliminate  future case development and costs.
Barrett also maintains a mandatory corporate-wide  pre-employment drug screening
program and a mandatory  post-injury  drug test. The program is believed to have
resulted in a reduction in the frequency of  fraudulent  claims and in accidents
in which the use of illegal drugs appears to have been a contributing factor.

        Elements  of  Self-Insurance   Costs.  The  costs  associated  with  the
Company's  self-insured  workers' compensation program include case reserves for
reported  claims,  an  additional  expense  provision  (referred to as the "IBNR
reserve") for  unanticipated  increases in the cost of open injury claims (known
as "adverse loss  development") and for claims incurred in prior periods but not
reported,  fees payable to the Company's TPAs,  additional claims administration
expenses, administrative fees payable to state and federal workers' compensation
regulatory agencies,  premiums for excess workers'

                                       7
<PAGE>


compensation insurance,  legal fees and safety incentive payments.  Although not
directly related to the size of the Company's payroll,  the number of claims and
correlative  loss  payments may be expected to increase with growth in the total
number of employees.  TPA fees also vary with the number of claims administered.
The state  assessments  are typically based on payroll amounts and, to a limited
extent,  the amount of permanent  disability  awards  during the previous  year.
Excess  insurance  premiums are also based in part on the size of the  Company's
payroll.  Safety incentives  expense may increase as the number of the Company's
PEO employees rises, although increases will only occur for any given PEO client
if such client's claims costs are below agreed-upon amounts.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS EXPERIENCE AND RESERVES
        The  Company  recognizes  its  liability  for the  ultimate  payment  of
incurred claims and claims  adjustment  expenses by accruing  liabilities  which
represent  estimates  of future  amounts  necessary  to pay claims  and  related
expenses  with  respect  to  covered  events  that have  occurred.  When a claim
involving a probable  loss is reported,  the  Company's  TPA  establishes a case
reserve for the  estimated  amount of ultimate  loss.  The estimate  reflects an
informed  judgment  based  on  established  case  reserving  practices  and  the
experience  and knowledge of the TPA regarding the nature and expected  value of
the claim,  as well as the  estimated  expense of settling the claim,  including
legal and other fees and expenses of administering  claims. The adequacy of such
case reserves depends on the  professional  judgment of each TPA to properly and
comprehensively evaluate the economic consequences of each claim.  Additionally,
on an aggregate basis, the Company has established an additional expense reserve
for both future  adverse loss  development in excess of initial case reserves on
open claims and for claims  incurred but not  reported,  referred to as the IBNR
reserve.

        As part of the case reserving  process,  historical data is reviewed and
consideration is given to the anticipated  effect of various factors,  including
known and anticipated  legal  developments,  inflation and economic  conditions.
Reserve amounts are necessarily  based on management's  estimates,  and as other
data  becomes  available,  these  estimates  are  revised,  which may  result in
increases  or  decreases  in  existing  case  reserves.  Barrett  has  engaged a
nationally-recognized,  independent actuary to periodically review the Company's
total workers'  compensation claims liability and reserving practices.  Based in
part  on  such  review,   the  Company   believes  its  total  accrued  workers'
compensation  claims  liabilities  are  adequate.  There  can,  however,  be  no
assurance that the Company's  actual future  workers'  compensation  obligations
will not exceed  the amount of its  accrued  liabilities,  with a  corresponding
negative effect on future earnings, due to such factors as unanticipated adverse
loss development of known claims, and the effect, if any, of claims incurred but
not reported.

        Approximately  one-fourth of the Company's  payroll exposure  associated
with staffing or PEO services is in relatively high-risk industries with respect
to workplace injuries,  including trucking, logging and construction.  A failure
to  successfully  manage the  severity and  frequency  of workers'  compensation
injuries will have a negative impact on the Company.  Management maintains clear
guidelines  for  its  branch  managers,   account  managers,  and  loss  control
specialists  directly tying their continued employment with the Company to their
diligence  in  understanding  and  addressing  the risks of  accident  or injury
associated  with  the  industries  in  which  client  companies  operate  and in
monitoring  the compliance by clients with workplace  safety  requirements.  The
Company  has  adopted  a policy  of "zero  tolerance"  for  avoidable  workplace
injuries.

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
        The   Company   performs   all   functions   associated   with   payroll
administration  through its internal management  information system. Each branch
performs  payroll data entry functions and maintains an independent  database of
employees  and  customers,  as  well  as  payroll  and  invoicing  records.  All
processing  functions are  centralized at Barrett's  corporate  headquarters  in
Portland,   Oregon.   Although  the  current  system  employed  by  the  Company
satisfactorily  meets  its  current  needs,  the  Company  perceives  it  to  be
advantageous to significantly  expand the capacity and capabilities  through the
utilization of new software  technologies.  Accordingly,  management initiated a
project in mid-1997 to convert to new  technologies  which it  anticipates  will
enable the  Company to more  effectively 

                                       8
<PAGE>


accommodate  its anticipated  growth,  maintain a  cost-effective  and efficient
processing structure, improve functionality, meet expected customer requirements
for  expanded  communication  capabilities,   and  provide  additional  customer
services  and  information  reporting.  The  Company's  new system will  utilize
client-server  technology,  an existing  software  product  from an  independent
software development company and a relational database  environment.  Management
estimates  the total cost of  implementing  this project at  approximately  $2.5
million.  The new system is currently expected to be operational in mid-1998 and
will  address all concerns  related to what is commonly  known as the "Year 2000
issue."

EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
        At December 31, 1997, the Company had  approximately  18,925  employees,
including approximately 12,800 staffing services employees,  approximately 5,800
PEO  employees  and  approximately  325  managerial,  sales  and  administrative
employees.  The number of employees at any given time may vary significantly due
to  business   conditions  at  customer  or  client   companies.   During  1997,
approximately  3% of  the  Company's  employees  were  covered  by a  collective
bargaining  agreement.  Each of Barrett's  managerial,  sales and administrative
employees has entered into a standard form of employment  agreement which, among
other  things,  contains  covenants  not to  engage  in  certain  activities  in
competition with the Company for 18 months  following  termination of employment
and to maintain the confidentiality of certain proprietary information.  Barrett
believes its employee relations are good.

        Benefits offered to Barrett's  staffing services employees include group
health  insurance,  a Section 125 cafeteria plan which permits  employees to use
pretax  earnings  to  fund  various  services,  including  medical,  dental  and
childcare,  and a Section  401(k)  savings plan pursuant to which  employees may
begin making  contributions  upon reaching 21 years of age and completing  1,000
hours of service in any consecutive  12-month period.  The Company may also make
contributions  to the savings plan,  which vest over seven years and are subject
to certain  legal  limits,  at the sole  discretion  of the  Company's  Board of
Directors.  In addition, the Company offers a nonqualified deferred compensation
plan for highly  compensated  employees who are precluded from  participation in
the 401(k) plan. Employees subject to a co-employer  arrangement may participate
in the  Company's  benefit  plans,  provided  that the  group  health  insurance
premiums  may,  at the  client's  option,  be paid  by  payroll  deduction.  See
"Regulatory and Legislative Issues--Employee Benefit Plans."

REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
        Business Operations.  The Company is subject to the laws and regulations
of the  jurisdictions  within  which  it  operates,  including  those  governing
self-insured  employers  under the  workers'  compensation  systems  in  Oregon,
Washington,  Maryland, Delaware, California and the U.S. Department of Labor for
USL&H  workers.  An Oregon PEO  company,  such as  Barrett,  is  required  to be
licensed as a worker-leasing  company by the Workers'  Compensation  Division of
the Oregon  Department  of Consumer and Business  Services.  Temporary  staffing
companies are expressly exempt from the Oregon licensing requirement. Oregon PEO
companies  are also  required to ensure that each PEO client  provides  adequate
training and supervision for its employees to comply with statutory requirements
for  workplace  safety  and to give 30 days'  written  notice  in the event of a
termination of its obligation to provide workers'  compensation coverage for PEO
employees and other subject employees of a PEO client.  Although compliance with
these   requirements   imposes  some  additional   financial  risk  on  Barrett,
particularly  with respect to those clients who breach their payment  obligation
to the  Company,  such  compliance  has not had a  material  adverse  impact  on
Barrett's business, financial condition or results of operations.

        Employee  Benefit  Plans.  The  Company's  operations  are  affected  by
numerous federal and state laws relating to labor,  tax and employment  matters.
By entering into a co-employer  relationship  with employees who are assigned to
work at client locations  (sometimes referred to as "worksite  employees"),  the
Company assumes certain  obligations and  responsibilities  of an employer under
these federal and state laws.  Because many of these federal and state laws were
enacted prior to the

                                       9
<PAGE>


development of  nontraditional  employment  relationships,  such as professional
employer, temporary employment, and outsourcing arrangements, many of these laws
do  not   specifically   address  the   obligations  and   responsibilities   of
nontraditional  employers. In addition, the definition of "employer" under these
laws is not uniform.

        As an  employer,  the  Company is subject to all  federal  statutes  and
regulations governing its employer-employee relationships. Subject to the issues
discussed  below,  the Company believes that its operations are in compliance in
all material respects with all applicable federal statutes and regulations.

        The Company  offers  various  qualified  employee  benefit  plans to its
employees,  including  its worksite  employees.  These  employee  benefit  plans
include a savings plan (the "401(k)  plan") under Section 401(k) of the Internal
Revenue  Code (the  "Code"),  a cafeteria  plan under Code  Section 125, a group
health plan, a group life insurance plan, a group disability  insurance plan and
an employee  assistance  plan. In addition,  the Company  offers a  nonqualified
deferred  compensation plan, which is available to highly compensated  employees
who are not eligible for participation in the Company's 401(k) plan.  Generally,
qualified  employee benefit plans are subject to provisions of both the Code and
the  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974  ("ERISA").  In order to
qualify for  favorable  tax treatment  under the Code,  qualified  plans must be
established  and  maintained  by an employer  for the  exclusive  benefit of its
employees.  See Item 7 of this  report  for a  discussion  of  issues  regarding
qualification   of  the  Company's   employee   benefit  plans  arising  out  of
participation by the Company's PEO employees.


COMPETITION
        The PEO and staffing  services  businesses  are  characterized  by rapid
growth  and  intense   competition.   The  staffing   services  market  includes
competitors  of all sizes,  including  several,  such as Manpower,  Inc.,  Kelly
Services,  Inc.,  The  Olsten  Corporation,  Interim  Services,  Inc.,  and Adia
Services,  Inc.,  which are  national  in scope and have  substantially  greater
financial,  marketing  and other  resources  than the  Company.  In  addition to
national companies,  Barrett competes with numerous regional and local firms for
both  customers and  employees.  The Company  estimates  that at least 100 firms
provide staffing services in Oregon.  There are relatively few barriers to entry
into the staffing services business.  The principal  competitive  factors in the
staffing  services  industry are price, the ability to provide qualified workers
in a timely manner and the monitoring of job performance. The Company attributes
its internal growth in staffing services revenues to the  cost-efficiency of its
operations which permits the Company to price its services competitively, and to
its ability  through its branch  office  network to  understand  and satisfy the
needs of its customers with competent personnel.

        Although  there  are  believed  to  be  approximately   2,200  companies
currently offering PEO services in the U.S., many of these potential competitors
are located in states in which the Company  presently does not operate.  Barrett
believes that there are  approximately 50 firms offering PEO services in Oregon,
but the  Company has the  largest  presence  in the state.  The Company may face
additional  competition in the future from new entrants to the field,  including
other staffing services  companies,  payroll processing  companies and insurance
companies.  Certain PEO  companies  operating in areas in which Barrett does not
now,  but may in the future,  offer its  services  have  greater  financial  and
marketing   resources  than  the  Company,   such  as  The  Vincam  Group  Inc.,
Administaff,  Inc.,  Staff  Leasing,  Inc.  and  Paychex,  Inc.,  among  others.
Competition in the PEO industry is based largely on price,  although service and
quality are also  important.  Barrett  believes  that its growth in PEO services
revenues is attributable to its ability to provide small and mid-sized companies
with the  opportunity  to provide  enhanced  benefits to their  employees  while
reducing their overall personnel administration and workers' compensation costs.
The Company's  competitive  advantage may be adversely affected by a substantial
increase in the costs of  maintaining  its  self-insured  workers'  compensation
program.  A  general  market  decrease  in the  level of  workers'  compensation
insurance premiums may also decrease demand for PEO services.

                                       10
<PAGE>


ITEM 2.       PROPERTIES
- ------------------------

         The Company  provides  staffing and PEO services  through all 24 of its
branch offices.  The following table shows the locations of the Company's branch
offices and the year in which each branch was opened or acquired.  The Company's
Oregon  branches  accounted for 53% of its total  revenues in 1997.  The Company
also leases office space in 22 other locations in its market areas which it uses
to recruit and place employees.


<TABLE>
                                Year Opened                                              Year Opened
     Oregon Locations           or Acquired              Other Locations                 or Acquired
- --------------------------    ----------------     ----------------------------     ---------------------
<S>                                 <C>            <C>                                      <C> 
Portland (Industrial)               1984           Tucson, Arizona                          1996
Portland (Bridgeport)               1988           Sacramento, California                   1988
Bend                                1990           Santa Clara, California                  1994
Medford                             1990           Brea, California                         1996
Salem                               1990           Goleta, California                       1996
Albany                              1991           Ontario, California                      1996
Eugene                              1991           Oxnard, California                       1996
Portland (Leasing)                  1993           Los Angeles, California                  1997
Pendleton                           1994           Boise, Idaho                             1996
Hood River                          1996           Lutherville, Maryland                    1951
                                                   Salisbury, Maryland                      1994
                                                   Easton, Maryland                         1994
                                                   Flint, Michigan                          1997
                                                   Spokane, Washington                      1994
</TABLE>

         The Company's corporate  headquarters are located in an office building
in Portland,  Oregon,  with approximately 9,200 square feet of office space. The
building is subject to a mortgage loan with a principal balance of approximately
$566,000 at December 31, 1997.

         The Company also owns  another  office  building in  Portland,  Oregon,
which houses its Portland/Bridgeport branch office. The building is subject to a
mortgage loan with a principal  balance at December 31, 1997,  of  approximately
$273,000 and has approximately 7,000 square feet of office space.

         Barrett leases office space for its other branch  offices.  At December
31, 1997,  such leases had  expiration  dates ranging from less than one year to
six years, with total minimum payments through 2002 of approximately $2,170,000.

ITEM 3.       LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
- -------------------------------

         A lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for the
County of Multnomah on February 5, 1997, by Javier and Ester Munoz,  husband and
wife,  against Asger M. Nielson,  doing business as Nielson and Son ("Nielson"),
Rain-Master  Roofing,  Inc.  ("Rain-Master"),  and the  Company.  Mr.  Munoz was
employed by the Company under a PEO arrangement  with  Rain-Master,  which is in
the roofing  business.  On February 1, 1995,  Rain-Master was providing  roofing
services  at a  construction  site for which  Nielson  was  serving as a general
contractor.  Mr.  Munoz  fell  from the roof at the  site in the  course  of his
employment  and is now a  paraplegic  as a result of the  injuries he  suffered.
Until the filing of the lawsuit  referred to above,  Mr. Munoz's claim was being
defended as a workers'  compensation claim. In the lawsuit,  the plaintiffs were
seeking damages in the amount of $10,000,000 pursuant to claims for relief based
on employer liability, intentional injury, product liability, negligence, breach
of implied warranty and loss of consortium.

                                       11
<PAGE>


         On July 14, 1997, the court granted the Company's motion to dismiss the
Company as a party to the lawsuit.  The  dismissal  was without  prejudice.  The
plaintiffs and the Company agreed that the dismissal of the plaintiffs' suit was
with prejudice and,  therefore,  the plaintiffs  were barred from refiling their
suit against the Company.  A stipulated  judgment  dismissing  plaintiffs'  case
against the Company was  entered on October  16,  1997.  Nielson had  previously
filed a cross-claim  against the Company for indemnity and contribution based on
the same grounds as the plaintiffs' suit. Nielson agreed to voluntarily  dismiss
the cross-claim against the Company.

         As part of a mediation  held November 11, 1997,  the Company  agreed to
waive a portion of its right to recoup certain sums previously paid to Mr. Munoz
as part of the  workers'  compensation  claim.  As a result,  a  settlement  was
reached whereby the Company will receive reimbursement from Nielson of a portion
of the  workers'  compensation  benefits  paid to Mr.  Munoz and  secured by the
Company's workers'  compensation lien. The Company paid no additional amounts to
Mr. Munoz or any other party as a result of the  settlement of this  lawsuit.  A
final order of dismissal eliminating the remainder of the case has been executed
by all  parties  and will be  filed  upon the  completed  execution  of a mutual
release of all claims.

         On March 11,  1997,  a Notice of  Intent  to Revoke  Farm/Forest  Labor
Contractor  License and to Assess Civil  Penalties  (the "Notice") was served on
the  Company by the Bureau of Labor and  Industries  of the State of Oregon (the
"Bureau"). The Notice also names Daniel A. Hatfield ("Hatfield"), an employee of
the  Company.  The Notice  proposed to assess  civil  penalties in the amount of
$488,000,  based on the  numbers  of workers  allegedly  affected,  for  alleged
noncompliance with various duties imposed on farm labor contracts by Oregon law,
including  licensing  violations,  failure to comply with wage payment laws, and
failure  to  maintain  and to  provide  workers  and the  Bureau  with  required
documentation.  The case was resolved by a  Stipulation,  Agreement  and Consent
Final  Order  dated  February  27, 1998 (the  "Order")  wherein the Bureau,  the
Company and Hatfield  agreed to the following  conditions:  (i) the Company will
terminate all farm and forest  contracting work at the Company's  Salem,  Oregon
branch for a period of three years;  (ii) the Bureau will renew licenses for all
other Company branches;  (iii) Hatfield will not engage in such contracting work
for three years; (iv) $50,000 in civil penalties  assessed against Hatfield will
be paid by the  Company's  Salem  branch,  and (v)  $50,000  in civil  penalties
assessed  against the  Company was  suspended  and payment  thereof  will not be
required  unless the Bureau  finds that the Company has  willfully  violated the
statutory and regulatory  requirements  relating to farm labor contracts  during
the three years following the date of the initial Order.

ITEM 4.       SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------

         No  matters  were  submitted  to a vote of the  Company's  stockholders
during the fourth quarter of 1997.

                                       12
<PAGE>


         EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

         The following table identifies, as of February 27, 1998, each executive
officer of the Company. Executive officers are elected annually and serve at the
discretion of the Board of Directors.

<TABLE>
                                                                                 Officer
          Name             Age    Principal Positions and Business Experience     Since
- ------------------------- ------- ---------------------------------------------- ---------

<S>                         <C>   <C>                                              <C> 
William W. Sherertz         52    President; Chief Executive Officer; Director     1980

Michael D. Mulholland       46    Vice President-Finance and Secretary; Chief      1994
                                  Financial Officer

K. Risa Olsen               47    Vice President                                   1997

Gregory R. Vaughn           42    Vice President                                   1998

James D. Miller             34    Controller, Principal Accounting Officer         1994
</TABLE>

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

         William W. Sherertz has acted as Chief Executive Officer of the Company
since  1980.  He has also been a director of the  Company  since  1980,  and was
appointed  President of the Company in March 1993.  Mr.  Sherertz also serves as
Chairman of the Board of Directors.

         Michael  D.  Mulholland  joined  the  Company  in  August  1994 as Vice
President-Finance and Secretary.  From 1988 to 1994, Mr. Mulholland was employed
by Sprouse-Reitz Stores Inc., a former Nasdaq-listed retail company,  serving as
its Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary. In November
1991,  Sprouse-Reitz  filed a voluntary  petition  under  Chapter 11 of the U.S.
Bankruptcy  Code.  Its plan of  reorganization  was confirmed by the  Bankruptcy
Court in June 1992. Subsequently, Mr. Mulholland was appointed to the additional
position  of Acting  Chief  Executive  Officer  prior to  Sprouse's  filing of a
voluntary  petition in connection with a prepackaged  liquidating  Chapter 11 in
November 1993. He is a certified public accountant on inactive status.

         K. Risa Olsen  rejoined the Company in April 1996 as National  Accounts
Manager.  Ms.  Olsen was  appointed  Vice  President in January  1997.  Prior to
rejoining  Barrett,  she  was  a  self-employed  Area  Director  for  The  Worth
Collection,  Ltd., a national privately-held direct marketer of women's apparel,
from November 1994 to March 1996.  From January 1993 to October 1994,  Ms. Olsen
owned and operated a marketing organization for various manufacturers of women's
apparel.  Prior to 1993,  Ms.  Olsen was  employed by The John H. Harland Co., a
publicly-held  provider of checks,  forms,  and business  documents to financial
institutions,  as a District Manager.  Ms. Olsen was previously  employed by the
Company from 1976 to 1981.

         Gregory  R.  Vaughn  joined  the  Company  in July  1997 as  Operations
Manager.  Mr. Vaughn was  appointed  Vice  President in January  1998.  Prior to
joining  Barrett,  Mr. Vaughn was Chief Executive  Officer of Insource  America,
Inc., a  privately-held  human  resource  management  company  headquartered  in
Portland,  Oregon,  since  1996.  Mr.  Vaughn  has also held  senior  management
positions with Sundial Time Systems,  Inc. and Continental  Information Systems,
Inc.

         James D. Miller joined the Company in January 1994 as Controller.  From
1991 to 1994,  he was the Corporate  Accounting  Manager for  Christensen  Motor
Yacht Corporation. Mr. Miller, a certified public accountant on inactive status,
was employed by Price Waterhouse LLP from 1987 to 1991.

                                       13
<PAGE>


                                     PART II

ITEM 5.       MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
              MATTERS
              -------

         The Company's  common stock (the "Common  Stock")  trades on The Nasdaq
Stock  Market  under the symbol  "BBSI." At  February  27,  1998,  there were 57
stockholders of record and  approximately  2,500 beneficial owners of the Common
Stock. The Company has not declared or paid any cash dividends since the closing
of its initial  public  offering of Common  Stock on June 18,  1993,  and has no
present plan to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable  future. The following
table  presents  the high and low  sales  prices  of the  Common  Stock for each
quarterly  period  during the last two fiscal  years,  as reported by The Nasdaq
Stock Market:

            1996                          High              Low
            ----                          ----              ---
            First Quarter               $ 20.75           $ 14.50
            Second Quarter                20.00             16.25
            Third Quarter                 22.25             14.00
            Fourth Quarter                17.50             13.50
            
            1997
            ----
            First Quarter               $ 19.00           $ 12.75
            Second Quarter                15.00             11.50
            Third Quarter                 17.50             13.63
            Fourth Quarter                17.25             11.00
            
         During 1997, the Company issued equity securities without  registration
under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  in each case in reliance upon the exemption
from  registration  set  forth in  Section  4(2) of the  Securities  Act of 1933
regarding transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering, as follows:

60,000  shares of Common Stock issued in April 1997,  upon the exercise of stock
warrants with an exercise price of $3.50 per share issued in connection with the
Company's initial public offering in June 1993.

                                       14
<PAGE>


ITEM 6.       SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
- -------------------------------------

         The following  selected  financial  data should be read in  conjunction
with the Company's  financial  statements and the  accompanying  notes listed in
Item 14 of this report.

<TABLE>
                                                                          Year Ended December 31
                                                                         -----------------------
                                                          1997          1996         1995         1994          1993
                                                      ---------     ----------    ----------     ---------    ---------
                                                                    (In thousands, except per share data)
Statement of Operations Data:
Revenues:
<S>                                                   <C>           <C>           <C>            <C>          <C>      
   Staffing services...............................   $ 155,192     $  112,778    $   99,036     $  71,148    $  41,755
   Professional employer services..................     125,814        101,148        79,480        68,571       57,950
                                                      ---------     ----------    ----------     ---------    ---------
       Total.......................................     281,006        213,926       178,516       139,719       99,705
                                                      ---------     ----------    ----------     ---------    ---------
Cost of revenues:
   Direct payroll costs............................     218,249        163,448       135,980       105,515       75,171
   Payroll taxes and benefits......................      24,996         18,755        14,993        11,925        9,349
   Workers' compensation...........................       8,146          5,938         6,073         5,069        4,591
   Safety incentives...............................       1,509          1,532           981         1,103          598
                                                      ---------     ----------    ----------     ---------    ---------
       Total.......................................     252,900        189,673       158,027       123,612       89,709
                                                      ---------     ----------    ----------     ---------    ---------
Gross margin.......................................      28,106         24,253        20,489        16,107        9,996
Selling, general, and administrative expenses......      20,887         16,034        13,657        10,302        6,450
Amortization of intangibles........................       1,292            820           564           430          370
                                                      ---------     ----------    ----------     ---------    ---------
Income from operations.............................       5,927          7,399         6,268         5,375        3,176
                                                      ---------     ----------    ----------     ---------    ---------
Other (expense) income:
   Interest expense................................        (162)           (82)          (75)         (106)         (86)
   Interest income.................................         362            534           400           224          161
   Other, net......................................           1             --            32            78          133
                                                      ---------     ----------    ----------     ---------    ---------
       Total.......................................         201            452           357           196          208
                                                      ---------     ----------    ----------     ---------    ---------
Income before provision for income taxes...........       6,128          7,851         6,625         5,571        3,384
Provision for income taxes(1)......................       2,303          2,815         2,507         2,105          437
                                                      ---------     ----------    ----------     ---------    ---------
       Net income..................................   $   3,825     $    5,036    $    4,118     $   3,466    $   2,947
                                                      =========     ==========    ==========     =========    =========
Basic net income per share.........................   $    0.57     $      .75    $      .64     $     .55
                                                      =========     ==========    ==========     =========
Weighted average basic shares......................       6,751          6,714         6,474         6,333
                                                      =========     ==========    ==========      ========
Diluted net income per share.......................   $    0.56     $     0.73    $     0.62     $    0.53
                                                      =========     ==========    ==========     =========
Weighted average diluted shares....................       6,885          6,935         6,680         6,591
                                                      =========     ==========    ==========     =========
Unaudited pro forma data(1):
       Net income..................................                                                           $   2,060
                                                                                                              =========
Basic net income per share(2)......................                                                           $     .39
                                                                                                              =========
Weighted average basic shares......................                                                               5,260
                                                                                                              =========
Diluted net income per share.......................                                                           $     .39
                                                                                                              =========
Weighted average diluted shares....................                                                               5,329
                                                                                                              =========
                                                                              As of December 31
                                                     ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         1997          1996            1995         1994         1993
                                                     ------------  -------------  ------------- ------------ ----------
                                                                               (In thousands)
Selected Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital....................................   $   10,613    $   11,557     $    8,417    $   4,889    $   7,017
Total assets.......................................       48,410        42,646         31,273       24,665       18,425
Long-term debt, net of current portion.............          531           838            875          908          946
Stockholders' equity...............................       30,144        25,562         20,034       14,455       10,480
</TABLE>

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

(1)   Effective July 1, 1987, the Company elected to be treated as a corporation
      subject to taxation  under  Subchapter  S of the  Internal  Revenue  Code,
      pursuant to which the  earnings of the Company  were  attributable  to the
      Company's  stockholders rather than to the Company. The Company terminated
      its election on April 30, 1993,  and  recognized a cumulative net deferred
      tax asset of $505,000. The amounts shown reflect a pro forma tax provision
      as if the Company had been a  Subchapter C  corporation  subject to income
      taxes for all periods presented.

(2)   All share and per share  amounts have been restated to reflect the 2-for-1
      stock split effective May 23, 1994.

                                       15
<PAGE>


ITEM 7.       MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
              AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
              -------------------------

OVERVIEW
         The Company's  revenues  consist of staffing  services and professional
employer  organization  ("PEO") services.  Staffing services revenues consist of
short-term  staffing,  contract  staffing and on-site  management.  PEO services
refer exclusively to co-employer  contractual  agreements with PEO clients.  The
Company's revenues represent all amounts billed to customers for direct payroll,
related  employment  taxes,  workers'  compensation  coverage  and a service fee
(equivalent to a mark-up  percentage).  The Company's Oregon branches  accounted
for  approximately  53% of its total revenues in 1997, and an additional 34% was
derived from its branches in California and Washington.  Consequently,  weakness
in economic conditions on the West Coast could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's financial results.

         The Company's  cost of revenues is comprised of direct  payroll  costs,
payroll  taxes  and  employee   benefits,   workers'   compensation  and  safety
incentives. Direct payroll costs represent the gross payroll earned by employees
based on salary or hourly wages.  Payroll taxes and employee benefits consist of
the  employer's   portion  of  Social  Security  and  Medicare  taxes,   federal
unemployment  taxes, state  unemployment  taxes and employee  reimbursements for
materials, supplies and other expenses, which are paid by the customer. Workers'
compensation  expense  consists  primarily  of the  costs  associated  with  the
Company's  self-insured  workers' compensation program, such as claims reserves,
claims administration fees, legal fees, state and federal  administrative agency
fees and reinsurance costs for catastrophic injuries. The Company also maintains
a large-deductible  workers' compensation insurance policy for employees working
in states where the Company is not  currently  self-insured.  Safety  incentives
represent cash incentives  paid to certain PEO client  companies as a reward for
maintaining  safe-work  practices in order to minimize workplace  injuries.  The
incentive is based on a  percentage  of annual  payroll and is paid  annually to
customers who meet predetermined loss parameters.

         The  largest  portion of workers'  compensation  expense is the cost of
workplace  injury claims.  When an injury occurs and is reported to the Company,
the Company's respective  independent  third-party claims administrator  ("TPA")
analyzes  the details of the injury and  develops a case  reserve,  which is the
TPA's  estimate  of the cost of the  claim  based on  similar  injuries  and its
professional  judgment.  The Company then records,  or accrues, an expense and a
corresponding  liability based upon the TPA's estimates for claims reserves.  As
cash payments are made by the Company's TPA against specific case reserves,  the
accrued liability is reduced by the corresponding  payment amount.  The TPA also
reviews  existing  injury  claims  on an  on-going  basis and  adjusts  the case
reserves as new or additional information for each claim becomes available.  The
Company  has  established  an  additional  IBNR  reserve to  provide  for future
unanticipated  increases in expenses  ("adverse loss development") of the claims
reserves for open injury claims and for claims incurred but not reported related
to prior and current periods.  Management  believes that the Company's  internal
claims reporting system minimizes the occurrence of unreported incurred claims.

         Selling,  general and administrative expenses represent both branch and
corporate  operating  expenses.  Branch operating  expenses consist primarily of
branch office staff payroll and payroll related costs, advertising, rent, office
supplies,  depreciation  and branch  incentive  compensation.  Branch  incentive
compensation  represents a combined 15% of branch pre-tax profits,  of which 10%
is paid to the branch manager and 5% is shared among the office staff. Corporate
operating  expenses consist  primarily of executive and office staff payroll and
payroll  related  costs,  professional  and legal  fees,  travel,  depreciation,
occupancy  costs,  information  systems costs and executive and corporate  staff
incentive bonuses.

                                       16
<PAGE>


         Amortization of intangibles  consists  primarily of the amortization of
the costs of  acquisitions  in excess of the fair value of net  assets  acquired
(goodwill).  The Company uses a 15-year estimate as the useful life of goodwill,
as compared to the 40-year maximum  permitted by generally  accepted  accounting
principles,  and  amortizes  such cost  using the  straight-line  method.  Other
intangible  assets,  such as customer  lists and covenants  not to compete,  are
amortized  using the  straight-line  method over their  estimated  useful lives,
which range from two to 15 years.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
         Statements  in this  Item or in Item 1 of  this  report  which  are not
historical  in  nature,  including  discussion  of  economic  conditions  in the
Company's market areas, the potential for and effect of future acquisitions, the
effect of changes in the Company's mix of services on gross margin, the adequacy
of the  Company's  workers'  compensation  reserves and  allowance  for doubtful
accounts, the tax-qualified status of the Company's 401(k) savings plan, and the
availability  of financing  and working  capital to meet the  Company's  funding
requirements,  are forward-looking  statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act of  1995.  Such  forward-looking  statements
involve known and unknown risks,  uncertainties and other factors that may cause
the actual  results,  performance  or  achievements  of the  Company or industry
results to be  materially  different  from any future  results,  performance  or
achievements  expressed  or implied  by such  forward-looking  statements.  Such
factors  with  respect  to the  Company  include  difficulties  associated  with
integrating  acquired  businesses  and clients  into the  Company's  operations,
economic  trends  in  the  Company's  service  areas,   uncertainties  regarding
government  regulation of PEOs, including the possible adoption by the IRS of an
unfavorable  position as to the  tax-qualified  status of employee benefit plans
maintained by PEOs,  future workers'  compensation  claims  experience,  and the
availability of and costs  associated with potential  sources of financing.  The
Company  disclaims  any  obligation  to update any such  factors or to  publicly
announce the result of any  revisions to any of the  forward-looking  statements
contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
         The  following  table  sets  forth the  percentages  of total  revenues
represented by selected items in the Company's  Statements of Operations for the
years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995,  listed in Item 14 of this report.
Certain 1996 and 1995 revenue and cost of revenue amounts have been reclassified
to conform with the 1997 presentation.  Such  reclassifications had no impact on
gross margin,  net income or  stockholders'  equity.  References to the Notes to
Financial Statements appearing below are to the notes to the Company's financial
statements listed in Item 14 of this report.

                                       17
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
                                                                                  Percentage of Total Revenues
                                                                           -----------------------------------------
                                                                                    Years Ended December 31,
                                                                             1997             1996              1995
                                                                           -------           ------            ------
Revenues:
<S>                                                                         <C>              <C>               <C>  
     Staffing services.................................................       55.2%            52.7%             55.5%
     Professional employer services....................................       44.8             47.3              44.5
                                                                            ------           ------            ------
         Total revenues................................................      100.0            100.0             100.0
                                                                            ------           ------            ------
Cost of revenues:
     Direct payroll costs..............................................       77.7             76.4              76.2
     Payroll taxes and benefits........................................        8.9              8.8               8.4
     Workers' compensation.............................................        2.9              2.8               3.4
     Safety incentives.................................................        0.5              0.7               0.5
                                                                            ------           ------            ------
         Total cost of revenues........................................       90.0             88.7              88.5
                                                                            ------           ------            ------
Gross margin...........................................................       10.0             11.3              11.5
Selling, general and administrative expenses...........................        7.4              7.5               7.7
Amortization of intangibles............................................        0.5              0.3               0.3
                                                                            ------           ------            ------
Income from operations.................................................        2.1              3.5               3.5
Other income (expense).................................................        0.1              0.2               0.2
                                                                            ------           ------            ------
Pretax income..........................................................        2.2              3.7               3.7
Provision for income taxes.............................................        0.8              1.3               1.4
                                                                            ------           ------            ------
Net income.............................................................        1.4%             2.4%              2.3%
                                                                            ======           ======            ======
</TABLE>


YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
         Net income for 1997 amounted to $3,825,000, a decrease of $1,211,000 or
24.0% from 1996 net income of  $5,036,000.  The decrease in 1997 net income from
1996 was  primarily  due to a lower  gross  margin  percentage,  which  resulted
primarily  from increased  payroll costs as a percentage of revenues,  offset in
part by lower income taxes as a percentage  of revenues.  Diluted net income per
share for 1997 was $0.56 compared to $0.73 for 1996.

         Total 1997 revenues were $281,006,000, which represented an increase of
$67,080,000  or 31.4%  over 1996  revenues  of  $213,926,000.  The  increase  in
revenues over 1996 was  primarily  due to a 1997 internal  growth rate of 22.1%,
combined  with  the  effect  from  a full  year  of  operations  for  five  1996
acquisitions,  as well as from  two  acquisitions  in the  first  half of  1997.
Staffing  services  revenues  increased 37.6% over 1996 primarily as a result of
the growth in large contract  staffing and on-site  management  services and the
effect  of a full year of  operations  for the 1996  acquisitions.  Professional
employer (staff leasing) services revenues  increased 24.4% over 1996 due to the
effect from a full year of operations for the 1996  acquisitions.  Revenues from
staffing services, as a percent of total revenues, increased in 1997 to 55.2% as
compared to 52.7% of total revenues in 1996.

         During  1997,  the  Company  closed  its  branch  offices  in  Seattle,
Washington and Phoenix, Arizona.  Management relocated the Seattle operations to
Tacoma,  Washington  in  connection  with a new customer base in the south Puget
Sound area.  The Phoenix  office,  which opened during the third quarter of 1996
and represented the Company's first office in Arizona,  transferred its business
to the expanding operations of the Company's Tucson, Arizona office.

         Gross margin for 1997 totaled $28,106,000,  representing an increase of
$3,853,000  or 15.9%  over  1996.  The gross  margin  rate of 10.0% of  revenues
represents  a 130 basis point  decline  from 1996 due  primarily to increases in
direct  payroll  costs as a percentage  of revenues.  Direct  payroll costs as a
percentage  of revenues  increased  primarily as a result of increased  business
activity in contract staffing and on-site management  arrangements.  The Company
expects gross margin, as a percentage of revenues,  to continue to be influenced
by  increases  or  decreases  in  contract   staffing  and  on-site   management
arrangements,  as  well  as by  the  adequacy  of  its  estimates  for  workers'
compensation  liabilities,  which may be  negatively  affected by  unanticipated
adverse loss development of claims reserves.

                                       18
<PAGE>


         The increase in direct  payroll  costs as a percentage of revenues from
76.4%  for  1996 to  77.7%  for 1997 was  primarily  attributable  to  increased
business  activity in contract  staffing  and on-site  management  arrangements,
which are typically higher volume, lower margin accounts.

         Workers'  compensation expense increased from 2.8% of revenues for 1996
to 2.9% of revenues for 1997.  The increase in the total number of injury claims
for 1997 over 1996 was due in large  part to a new  policy  implemented  in 1997
which records "first aid" type claims. Such claims totaled 276 for 1997 and were
not recorded in 1996. The increase in workers' compensation expense for 1997 was
generally attributable to a moderately higher incidence of injuries during 1997,
as compared to 1996, and  management's  decision to (i) continue to increase the
Company's  accrual for future  adverse loss  development of open claims and (ii)
build an accrual for potential future catastrophic workers' compensation claims.

         The  following  table  summarizes   certain  indicators  of  experience
regarding the Company's  self-insured  workers'  compensation program by quarter
for 1997 and 1996.

<TABLE>
                            Self-Insured Workers' Compensation Profile


                                                 Total Workers' Comp           Total Workers'
                                                       Expense                Comp Expense as a
                    No. of Injury Claims            (in thousands)           % of Total Payroll
                   -----------------------    ---------------------------    --------------------
                     1997          1996          1997           1996          1997         1996
                   ----------    ---------    -----------    ------------    --------     -------
<S>                    <C>          <C>       <C>            <C>               <C>        <C> 
Q1                       321          193       $  1,855       $    770         3.9%       2.4%
Q2                       419          312          1,973          1,213         3.7%       3.1
Q3                       578          401          2,237          2,161         3.6%       4.7
Q4                       476          422          2,081          1,794         3.8%       3.9
                       -----        -----       --------       --------
For the Year           1,794        1,328       $  8,146       $  5,938         3.7%       3.6
                       =====        =====       ========       ========
</TABLE>

         Selling,  general and  administrative  expenses consist of compensation
and other expenses  incident to the operation of the Company's  headquarters and
branch   offices  and   marketing  of  its   services.   Selling,   general  and
administrative ("SG&A") expenses (excluding the amortization of intangibles) for
1997 amounted to approximately  $20.9 million, an increase of approximately $4.9
million  or 30.3%  over  1996.  Selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses
expressed as a percentage of revenues  decreased  from 7.5% for 1996 to 7.4% for
1997.  The  increase  in total  SG&A  dollars  for 1997 over 1996 was  primarily
attributable  to  incremental  branch  office  expenses  as a result of the four
acquisitions  since October 1, 1996, the opening of four new offices in 1996 and
early 1997, the addition of experienced  personnel at several  offices to expand
the  Company's  managerial  resources  and a $0.7  million  increase in bad debt
expense.  Two customers  accounted for over one-half of the increase in bad debt
expense.  Management believes that the Company's allowance for doubtful accounts
of  $575,000  is  adequate at  December  31,  1997.  There can be no  assurance,
however, that future experience with respect to the Company's ability to collect
accounts receivable will not be adverse.

         Amortization  of  intangibles  totaled  $1,292,000 for 1997 or 0.5 % of
revenues, which compares to $820,000 or 0.3% of revenues for 1996. The increased
amortization expense for 1997 was primarily attributable to amortization arising
from the four acquisitions made since October 1, 1996.

         The Company  offers  various  qualified  employee  benefit plans to its
employees,  including its worksite  employees.  These qualified employee benefit
plans  include a savings plan (the "401(k)  plan") under  Section  401(k) of the
Internal  Revenue Code (the "Code"),  a cafeteria plan under Code Section 125, a
group health plan, a group life  insurance  plan, a group  disability  insurance
plan and an employee  assistance  plan.  Generally,  qualified  employee benefit
plans are subject to provisions of both the Code and ERISA.  In order to qualify
for favorable tax treatment under the Code,  qualified plans must be established
and maintained by an employer for the exclusive benefit of its employees.

                                       19
<PAGE>


         A definitive judicial  interpretation of "employer" in the context of a
PEO arrangement has not been established. The tax-exempt status of the Company's
401(k) plan and cafeteria plan is subject to continuing scrutiny and approval by
the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") and depends upon the Company's  ability
to establish the Company's  employer-employee  relationship  with PEO employees.
The issue of whether the Company's  tax-qualified benefit plans can legitimately
include  worksite  employees under their coverage has not yet been resolved.  If
the  worksite  employees  cannot be  covered by the  plans,  then the  exclusive
benefit  requirement  imposed  by the  Code  would  not be met by the  plans  as
currently administered and the plans could be disqualified.

         The IRS has established a Market Segment Study Group regarding Employee
Leasing for the stated purpose of examining  whether PEOs,  such as the Company,
are the employers of worksite employees under the Code provisions  applicable to
employee benefit plans and are,  therefore,  able to offer to worksite employees
benefit plans that qualify for favorable tax  treatment.  The IRS Study Group is
reportedly also examining  whether the owners of client  companies are employees
of PEO companies under Code provisions  applicable to employee benefit plans. To
the best of the  Company's  knowledge,  the Market  Segment  Study Group has not
issued a report.

         A PEO company  headquartered  in Texas has stated publicly that the IRS
National  Office  is being  requested  by the IRS  Houston  District  to issue a
Technical  Advice  Memorandum  ("TAM")  on the PEO  worksite  employee  issue in
connection with an ongoing audit of a plan of the Texas PEO company.  The stated
purpose of TAMs is to help IRS  personnel in closing  cases and to establish and
maintain  consistent  holdings.   The  IRS's  position  is  that  TAMs  are  not
precedential;  that is, they are limited to the particular taxpayer involved and
that  taxpayer's  set of facts.  The draft  request for a TAM by the IRS Houston
District  reportedly states its determination  that the Texas PEO company's Code
Section 401(k) plan should be disqualified for the reason, among others, that it
covers worksite employees who are not employees of the PEO company.

         The timing and nature of the issuance and contents of any TAM regarding
the  worksite  employee  issue or any report of the Market  Segment  Study Group
regarding  Employee  Leasing is unknown at this time. There has also been public
discussion of the possibility that the Treasury Department may propose some form
of administrative relief or that Congress may provide legislative  resolution or
clarification regarding this issue.

         In the event the tax exempt status of the Company's  benefit plans were
to be discontinued and the benefit plans were to be  disqualified,  such actions
could  have a  material  adverse  effect on the  Company's  business,  financial
condition,  and  results of  operations.  The Company is not  presently  able to
predict the likelihood of  disqualification  nor the resulting range of loss, in
light of the lack of public direction from the IRS or Congress.

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
         Net income for 1996 amounted to $5,036,000,  an increase of $918,000 or
22.3% over 1995 net income of  $4,118,000.  The increase in 1996 net income from
1995 was primarily due to continued  growth in revenues and gross margin,  which
was offset in part by increased selling,  general and  administrative  expenses.
Diluted net income per share for 1996 was $0.73 compared to $0.62 for 1995.

         Total 1996 revenues were $213,926,000, which represented an increase of
$35,410,000  or 19.8%  over 1995  revenues  of  $178,516,000.  The  increase  in
revenues over 1995 was  primarily  due to a 1996 internal  growth rate of 10.6%,
coupled with the  acquisition of five staffing and PEO  businesses  during 1996.
Professional  employer (staff leasing)  services  revenues  increased 27.3% over
1995 due to the growth in the number of new PEO clients, primarily in Oregon and
California.  The growth in 1996 PEO  services  revenues was a result of internal
sales efforts,  together with the acquisitions  made during 1996.  Revenues from
staffing services, as a percent of total revenues,  declined in 1996 to 52.7% as
compared to 55.5% of total  revenues in 1995,  despite a 13.9%  growth rate over
1995.

                                       20
<PAGE>


         Gross margin for 1996 totaled $24,253,000,  representing an increase of
$3,764,000  or 18.4% over 1995.  The gross  margin rate of 11.3% of revenues for
1996  represented a 20 basis point decrease from 1995 due to slight increases in
direct  payroll  costs  and  payroll  taxes  and  benefits,  offset in part by a
decrease in workers' compensation expense as a percentage of total revenues.

         Workers'  compensation expense, both in terms of total dollars and as a
percent of total  payroll  dollars,  improved in 1996 to  $5,938,000  or 2.8% of
revenues,  compared to $6,073,000 or 3.4 % of revenues in 1995.  The decrease in
the 1996  expense was  primarily  the result of lower  severity for 1996 claims,
coupled with a slightly lower incidence of injuries compared to 1995.

         Selling,   general   and   administrative   expenses   (excluding   the
amortization  of  intangibles)  amounted to  $16,034,000 or 7.5% of revenues for
1996, as compared to  $13,657,000  or 7.7% of revenues for 1995. The increase in
total  dollars for 1996,  as compared to 1995,  was  primarily due to additional
branch office staff  resulting  from the five  acquisitions  consummated  during
1996.

         Amortization  of  intangibles  totaled  $820,000 for 1996,  or 0.3 % of
revenues, which compared to $564,000 or 0.3% of revenues for 1995. The increased
amortization  expense for 1996 over 1995 was primarily  attributable to the five
acquisitions during 1996.

FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS
         The Company has historically  experienced  significant  fluctuations in
its quarterly operating results and expects such fluctuations to continue in the
future. The Company's operating results may fluctuate due to a number of factors
such as  seasonality,  wage  limits on  payroll  taxes,  claims  experience  for
workers' compensation, demand and competition for the Company's services and the
effect of acquisitions.  The Company's  revenue levels fluctuate from quarter to
quarter  primarily  due to the impact of  seasonality  on its staffing  services
business  and on  certain  of its PEO  clients  in the  agriculture  and  forest
products-related  industries. As a result, the Company may have greater revenues
and net income in the third and fourth  quarters  of its  fiscal  year.  Payroll
taxes and benefits fluctuate with the level of direct payroll costs but may tend
to represent a smaller percentage of revenues later in the Company's fiscal year
as federal and state statutory wage limits for  unemployment and social security
taxes are exceeded by some employees.  Workers' compensation expense varies with
both the frequency and severity of workplace  injury  claims  reported  during a
quarter,  as well as adverse loss  development  of prior period  claims during a
subsequent quarter.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
         The  Company's  cash  position  of  $3,380,000  at  December  31,  1997
increased  $1,479,000  from December 31, 1996. The increase was primarily due to
$7,783,000 provided by operations and $757,000 provided by the exercise of stock
options and warrants,  offset by $2,227,000  used for  acquisitions,  $1,469,000
used for the  purchase of property and  equipment  and  $2,825,000  used for the
repurchase of common stock (see discussion below).

         Net  cash  provided  by  operating  activities  for  1997  amounted  to
$7,783,000 as compared to $2,208,000 for 1996. For 1997, cash flow was primarily
generated by net income together with increases of $2,042,000 in accrued payroll
and benefits and $900,000 in accrued workers'  compensation  claim  liabilities.
The $1,030,000 increase in other long-term  liabilities  includes the $1,000,000
deferred  noncompete  agreement  arising from the  acquisition of HR Only and is
reflected  in  the  supplemental  schedule  of  noncash  activities  within  the
"liabilities assumed" caption.

         Net cash used in investing  activities  totaled $4,084,000 for 1997, as
compared to $3,603,000  for 1996.  During 1997,  the Company paid  $2,227,000 in
cash in  connection  with  the HR Only  and TLC  Staffing  acquisitions  and had
capital  expenditures  of  $1,469,000.  Approximately  $1.0 million of the total
capital  expenditures was related to new computer  hardware and software for the
Company's new  management  information  system,  which will address all concerns
related  to the "Year  2000  issue," as

                                       21
<PAGE>


discussed in Item 1 under  "Management  Information  System."  During 1996,  the
Company paid $1,519,000 in cash in connection with five  acquisitions,  incurred
$1,058,000  in capital  expenditures  and had net  purchases  of  $1,026,000  of
restricted   marketable   securities  to  satisfy   various  state  and  federal
self-insured  workers'  compensation  surety deposit  requirements.  The Company
presently has no material long-term capital commitments.

         Net cash used in  financing  activities  for 1997  totaled  $2,220,000,
which  compares to $78,000 net cash provided by financing  activities  for 1996.
For 1997, the principal use of cash used in financing  activities arose from the
Company's  obligation to redeem 159,154 shares of its common stock at a value of
$2,824,984   pursuant  to  a  Plan  and  Agreement  of  Reorganization   between
StaffAmerica,  Inc. and the Company. The cash used for this stock redemption was
offset in part by net proceeds  from the exercise of stock  options and warrants
totaling  $757,000.  As of the date of this report, an underwriter  continues to
hold  warrants  to  purchase  30,000  shares of common  stock at $4.20 per share
issued in connection  with the  Company's  1993 initial  public  offering of its
common stock. The unexercised warrants expire on June 10, 1998.

         The Company has an unsecured  $4.0 million  revolving  credit  facility
with its  principal  bank and $2.1  million  for  standby  letters  of credit in
connection with certain workers' compensation surety arrangements.  There was no
outstanding  balance on the revolving  credit facility at December 31, 1997. See
Note 7 of the Notes to Financial Statements. Management believes that the credit
facility and other  potential  sources of financing,  together with  anticipated
funds generated from operations, will be sufficient in the aggregate to fund the
Company's working capital needs for the foreseeable future.

INFLATION
         Inflation  generally has not been a significant factor in the Company's
operations  during the  periods  discussed  above.  The  Company  has taken into
account  the  impact  of  escalating  medical  and other  costs in  establishing
reserves for future expenses for self-insured workers' compensation claims.

ITEM 7A.      QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

         No disclosure is required under this item.

ITEM 8.       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
- ---------------------------------------------------------

         The financial  statements and notes thereto required by this item begin
on page F-1 of this report, as listed in Item 14.

ITEM 9.       CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
              FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
              --------------------

         None.

                                       22
<PAGE>


                                    PART III

ITEM 10.      INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
- -------------------------------------------------------------

         The information  required by Item 10, Directors and Executive  Officers
of the  Registrant,  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Company's
definitive  Proxy Statement for the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders  ("Proxy
Statement"),  under the headings "Election of Directors" and "Stock Ownership by
Principal  Stockholders  and  Management--Section   16(a)  Beneficial  Ownership
Reporting  Compliance" or appears under the heading  "Executive  Officers of the
Registrant"  on page 13 of this  report.  The  information  required by Item 11,
Executive  Compensation,  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference  to the  Proxy
Statement,   under  the  headings  "Executive  Compensation"  and  "Election  of
Directors--Compensation  Committee  Interlocks and Insider  Participation."  The
information required by Item 12, Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
and  Management,  is  incorporated  herein by reference to the Proxy  Statement,
under   the   heading   "Stock   Ownership   by   Principal   Stockholders   and
Management--Beneficial  Ownership  Table." The information  required by Item 13,
Certain  Relationships  and  Related  Transactions,  is  incorporated  herein by
reference   to  the  Proxy   Statement,   under   the   heading   "Election   of
Directors--Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation."

                                       23
<PAGE>


                                     PART IV

ITEM 14.      EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
              FORM 8-K
              --------

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES
The Financial  Statements,  together with the report thereon of Price Waterhouse
LLP, are included on the pages indicated below:

<TABLE>
                                                                                            Page
                                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                                         <C>
Report of Independent Public Accountants                                                     F-1

Balance Sheets - December 31, 1997 and 1996                                                  F-2

Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995
                                                                                             F-3

Statements of Redeemable Common Stock and Nonredeemable Stockholders' Equity -
  December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995                                                           F-4

Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995
                                                                                             F-5

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                                                   F-6
</TABLE>

There are no schedules required to be filed herewith.

REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended December 31, 1997.

EXHIBITS
Exhibits are listed in the Exhibit Index which follows the Financial  Statements
included  in this  report.  Each  management  contract or  compensatory  plan or
arrangement  required to be filed as an exhibit to this  report is listed  under
Item 10,  "Executive  Compensation  Plans and  Arrangements and Other Management
Contracts" in the Exhibit Index.

                                       24
<PAGE>


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Registrant

Date:  March 30, 1998            By:  /s/ William W. Sherertz
                                      William W. Sherertz
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed below by the following  persons on behalf of the  Registrant and
in the capacities indicated on the 30th day of March, 1998.

Principal Executive Officer and Director:

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


Principal Financial Officer:

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


Principal Accounting Officer:

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

Other Directors:

* ROBERT R. AMES                      Director

* HERBERT L. HOCHBERG                 Director

* ANTHONY MEEKER                      Director

* STANLEY G. RENECKER                 Director

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

                                       25
<PAGE>


                        REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of
Barrett Business Services, Inc.

In our opinion,  the accompanying  balance sheets and the related  statements of
operations,  of redeemable common stock and nonredeemable  stockholders'  equity
and of cash flows  present  fairly,  in all  material  respects,  the  financial
position of Barrett Business  Services,  Inc. at December 31, 1997 and 1996, and
the results of its  operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended  December 31,  1997,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's  management;  our  responsibility  is to  express  an opinion on these
financial  statements  based on our  audits.  We  conducted  our audits of these
statements  in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing  standards  which
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable  assurance about
whether the financial  statements  are free of material  misstatement.  An audit
includes  examining,  on a test  basis,  evidence  supporting  the  amounts  and
disclosures in the financial  statements,  assessing the  accounting  principles
used and  significant  estimates made by management,  and evaluating the overall
financial  statement  presentation.   We  believe  that  our  audits  provide  a
reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.


/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP


Portland, Oregon
February 11, 1998

                                      F-1
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
<TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(in thousands, except par value)                                                     1997              1996
                                      ASSETS
Current assets:
<S>                                                                              <C>               <C>           
   Cash and cash equivalents                                                     $        3,380    $        1,901
   Trade accounts receivable, net                                                        19,366            19,057
   Note receivable (Note 2)                                                                   -               324
   Prepaid expenses and other                                                             1,080               914
   Deferred tax assets (Note 12)                                                          1,926             1,279
                                                                                ----------------  ----------------
        Total current assets                                                             25,752            23,475
Intangibles, net (Note 4)                                                                12,094            10,226
Property and equipment, net (Notes 5 and 8)                                               4,263             3,111
Restricted marketable securities and workers' compensation
  deposits (Note 6)                                                                       6,095             5,707
Other assets                                                                                206               127
                                                                                ----------------  ----------------
                                                                                 $       48,410    $       42,646
                                                                                ================  ================
                   LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK AND
                      NONREDEEMABLE STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
   Current portion of long-term debt (Note 8)                                    $          323    $           36
   Accounts payable                                                                         801               667
   Accrued payroll, payroll taxes and related benefits                                    9,403             7,354
   Accrued workers' compensation claim liabilities (Note 6)                               3,140             2,240
   Customer safety incentives payable                                                     1,073             1,015
   Other accrued liabilities                                                                399               606
                                                                                ----------------  ----------------
        Total current liabilities                                                        15,139            11,918
Long-term debt, net of current portion (Note 8)                                             531               838
Customer deposits                                                                           934               890
Long-term workers' compensation liabilities (Note 6)                                        632               613
Other long-term liabilities                                                               1,030                 -
                                                                                ----------------  ----------------
                                                                                         18,266            14,259
                                                                                ----------------  ----------------
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 9, 10 and 15)
Redeemable common stock, $.01 par value; 159 shares issued and
  outstanding at December 31, 1996 (Note 13)                                                  -             2,825
                                                                                ----------------  ----------------

Nonredeemable stockholders' equity:
   Common stock, $.01 par value; 20,500 shares authorized,
     6,743 and 6,625 shares issued and outstanding (Notes 13 and 14)                         67                66
   Additional paid-in capital                                                            11,685            10,929
   Retained earnings                                                                     18,392            14,567
                                                                                ----------------  ----------------
                                                                                         30,144            25,562
                                                                                ----------------  ----------------
                                                                                 $       48,410    $       42,646
                                                                                ================  ================
</TABLE>
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                      F-2
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
<TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands, except per share amounts)                           1997              1996              1995

Revenues:
<S>                                                             <C>               <C>               <C>
   Staffing services                                            $     155,192     $     112,778     $      99,036
   Professional employer services                                     125,814           101,148            79,480
                                                              ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
                                                                      281,006           213,926           178,516
                                                              ----------------  ----------------  ----------------

Cost of revenues:
   Direct payroll costs                                               218,249           163,448           135,980
   Payroll taxes and benefits                                          24,996            18,755            14,993
   Workers' compensation (Note 6)                                       8,146             5,938             6,073
   Safety incentives                                                    1,509             1,532               981
                                                              ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
                                                                      252,900           189,673           158,027
                                                              ----------------  ----------------  ----------------

Gross margin                                                           28,106            24,253            20,489

Selling, general and administrative expenses                           20,887            16,034            13,657
Amortization of intangibles (Note 4)                                    1,292               820               564
                                                              ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
Income from operations                                                  5,927             7,399             6,268
                                                              ----------------  ----------------  ----------------

Other (expense) income:
   Interest expense                                                      (162)              (82)              (75)
   Interest income                                                        362               534               400
   Other, net                                                               1                 -                32
                                                              ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
                                                                          201               452               357
                                                              ----------------  ----------------  ----------------

Income before provision for income taxes                                6,128             7,851             6,625

Provision for income taxes (Note 12)                                    2,303             2,815             2,507
                                                              ----------------  ----------------  ----------------

Net income                                                      $       3,825             5,036             4,118
                                                              ================  ================  ================

Basic earnings per share                                        $         .57               .75               .64
                                                              ================  ================  ================

Weighted average number of basic shares outstanding                     6,751             6,714             6,474
                                                              ================  ================  ================

Diluted earnings per share                                      $         .56               .73               .62
                                                              ================  ================  ================

Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding                   6,885             6,935             6,680
                                                              ================  ================  ================
</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                      F-3
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK AND
NONREDEEMABLE STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
<TABLE>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                 NONREDEEMABLE STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            REDEEMABLE                                       ADDITIONAL
                                           COMMON STOCK                COMMON STOCK            PAID-IN      RETAINED
(in thousands)                         SHARES        AMOUNT        SHARES        AMOUNT        CAPITAL      EARNINGS       TOTAL
                                     ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ----------

<S>                                     <C>         <C>                <C>      <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>     
Balance, December 31, 1994                     -    $        -         6,367    $       64    $    8,978     $   5,413     $ 14,455

Common stock issued for acquisitions                                      67             1           910                        911
Common stock issued on exercise
  of options and warrants                                                124             1           549                        550
Net income                                                                                                       4,118        4,118
Contribution of common stock
  (Note 11)                                                               (7)                                                     -
                                     ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------

Balance, December 31, 1995                     -             -         6,551            66        10,437         9,531       20,034

Common stock issued for acquisitions         159         2,825            20                         380                        380
Common stock issued on exercise
  of options, net                                                         54                         112                        112
Net income                                                                                                       5,036        5,036
                                     ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------

Balance, December 31, 1996                   159         2,825         6,625            66        10,929        14,567       25,562

Common stock issued on exercise
  of options and warrants, net                                           118             1           756                        757
Repurchase of redeemable common
  stock                                     (159)       (2,825)                                                                   -
Net income                                                                                                       3,825        3,825
                                     ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------

Balance, December 31, 1997                     -    $        -         6,743    $       67    $   11,685    $   18,392    $  30,144
                                     ============  ============  ============  ============  ============  ============  ===========
</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                      F-4
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
<TABLE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands)                                                                1997             1996             1995

Cash flows from operating activities:
<S>                                                                         <C>              <C>               <C>      
   Net income                                                               $     3,825      $      5,036      $   4,118
   Reconciliations of net income to net cash provided
     by operating activities:
      Depreciation and amortization                                               1,683             1,126            812
      Gain on sales of marketable securities                                          -                 -            (42)
      Deferred taxes                                                               (647)             (342)           (23)
      Changes in certain  assets and  liabilities,  net of
       amounts  purchased in acquisitions:
        Trade accounts receivable, net                                              237            (5,834)        (3,520)
        Prepaid expenses and other                                                 (123)             (436)           121
        Accounts payable                                                            125               289            160
        Accrued payroll, payroll taxes and related benefits                       2,042             1,557            740
        Other accrued liabilities                                                  (331)              606              -
        Accrued workers' compensation claim liabilities                             900               148            183
        Customer safety incentives payable                                           58               239            (29)
        Customer deposits, other liabilities and other assets, net                  (16)             (181)           (24)
        Other long-term liabilities                                                  30                 -              -
                                                                          --------------  ----------------  -------------
Net cash provided by operating activities                                         7,783             2,208          2,496
                                                                          --------------  ----------------  -------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
   Cash paid for acquisitions, including other direct costs                      (2,227)           (1,519)        (1,199)
   Purchases of fixed assets, net of amounts purchased
     in acquisitions                                                             (1,469)           (1,058)          (369)
   Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities                              5,343             7,025          1,862
   Purchases of marketable securities                                            (5,731)           (8,051)        (2,305)
                                                                          --------------  ----------------  -------------
Net cash used in investing activities                                            (4,084)           (3,603)        (2,011)
                                                                          --------------  ----------------  -------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
   Payment of credit line assumed in acquisition                                   (401)                -              -
   Note receivable                                                                  324                 -              -
   Payments on long-term debt                                                       (75)              (34)           (31)
   Repurchase of common stock                                                    (2,825)                -              -
   Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants                         757               112            550
                                                                          --------------  ----------------  -------------
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities                              (2,220)               78            519
                                                                          --------------  ----------------  -------------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                              1,479            (1,317)         1,004
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year                                      1,901             3,218          2,214
                                                                          --------------  ----------------  -------------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year                                      $     3,380      $      1,901      $   3,218
                                                                          --------------  ----------------  -------------

Supplemental schedule of noncash activities:
   Acquisition of other businesses:
      Cost of acquisitions in excess of fair market value of
        net assets acquired                                                 $     3,160      $      4,337      $   2,080
      Tangible assets acquired                                                      674               494             30
      Liabilities assumed                                                         1,607               107              -
      Common stock issued in connection with acquisitions                             -             3,205            911
</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                      F-5
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


1.   SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

     NATURE OF OPERATIONS
     Barrett Business Services,  Inc.  ("Barrett" or "the Company"),  a Maryland
     corporation,  is engaged in providing  staffing and  professional  employer
     services to a  diversified  group of customers  through a network of branch
     offices  throughout  Oregon,   Washington,   Idaho,  California,   Arizona,
     Maryland,   Delaware  and  Michigan.   Approximately   53%,  66%  and  68%,
     respectively,  of the Company's  revenues  during 1997,  1996 and 1995 were
     attributable to its Oregon operations.

     REVENUE RECOGNITION
     The Company  recognizes  revenue as the  services  are rendered by its work
     force.  Staffing  services are engaged by customers to meet  short-term and
     long-term personnel needs. Professional employer services are normally used
     by  organizations  to satisfy ongoing human resource  management  needs and
     typically  involve  contracts  with a minimum  term of one year,  renewable
     annually, which cover all employees at a particular work site.

     CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
     The Company considers nonrestricted short-term investments which are highly
     liquid, readily convertible into cash, and have original maturities of less
     than three months to be cash  equivalents for purposes of the statements of
     cash flows.

     ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS
     The Company had an allowance for doubtful  accounts of $575,000 and $25,000
     at December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

     MARKETABLE SECURITIES
     At December 31, 1997 and 1996, marketable securities consisted primarily of
     governmental debt instruments with maturities  generally from 90 days to 30
     years  (see  Note 6).  Marketable  equity  and debt  securities  have  been
     categorized as  held-to-maturity  and, as a result, are stated at amortized
     cost.  Realized  gains and  losses on sales of  marketable  securities  are
     included  in  other  (expense)  income  on  the  Company's   statements  of
     operations.

     INTANGIBLES
     Intangible  assets  consist  primarily of  identifiable  intangible  assets
     acquired  and the cost of  acquisition  in excess of the fair  value of net
     assets acquired  ("goodwill").  Intangible  assets acquired are recorded at
     their estimated fair value at the acquisition date.

     The Company uses a 15-year  estimate as the useful life of  goodwill.  This
     life  is  based  on an  analysis  of  industry  practice  and  the  factors
     influencing the acquisition decision. Other intangible assets are amortized
     on the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, ranging from
     2 to 15 years. (See Note 4.)

                                      F-6
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


1.   SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

     INTANGIBLES (CONTINUED)
     The Company reviews for asset impairment at the end of each quarter or more
     frequently  when  events or  changes  in  circumstances  indicate  that the
     carrying  amount of intangible  assets may not be  recoverable.  To perform
     that review, the Company estimates the sum of expected future  undiscounted
     net cash flows from the intangible  assets. If the estimated net cash flows
     are less than the  carrying  amount of the  intangible  asset,  the Company
     recognizes  an  impairment  loss in an amount  necessary  to write down the
     intangible  asset  to a fair  value  as  determined  from  expected  future
     discounted  cash flows.  No write-down for impairment loss was recorded for
     the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995.

     PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
     Property and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and
     repairs are charged to operating expense as incurred,  and expenditures for
     additions  and  betterments  are  capitalized.  The cost of assets  sold or
     otherwise  disposed  of  and  the  related  accumulated   depreciation  are
     eliminated  from the accounts,  and any resulting gain or loss is reflected
     in the statements of operations.

     Depreciation   of  property  and  equipment  is  calculated   using  either
     straight-line  or  accelerated  methods over  estimated  useful lives which
     range from 3 years to 31.5 years.

     CUSTOMER SAFETY INCENTIVES PAYABLE
     Safety  incentives  are paid  annually to  professional  employer  services
     clients if the cost of  workers'  compensation  claims is less than  agreed
     upon  amounts;  amounts  paid are based on a  percentage  of  payroll.  The
     Company accrues the amounts payable under this program on a monthly basis.

     CUSTOMER DEPOSITS
     The Company requires deposits from certain  professional  employer services
     customers  to cover a  portion  of its  accounts  receivable  due from such
     customers in event of default of payment.

     STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
     The Company has recorded the following non-cash transactions:

     During  1995,  the  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of the Company
     contributed  7,400  shares of common  stock of the Company with a then-fair
     market  value of  $111,000  to the  Company  in  settlement  of a  personal
     guarantee of a receivable from an insolvent customer (see Note 11).

     Interest paid during 1997,  1996, and 1995 did not  materially  differ from
     interest expense.

     Income taxes paid by the Company in 1997, 1996 and 1995 totaled $3,117,200,
     $2,939,900 and $2,510,700, respectively.

                                      F-7
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


1.   SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

     NET INCOME PER SHARE
     The Company adopted  Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 128,
     "Earnings per Share",  for the year ended  December 31, 1997.  SFAS No. 128
     requires  disclosure  of basic and diluted  earnings  per share.  All prior
     years have been  restated  to reflect the  adoption of SFAS No. 128.  Basic
     earnings per share are computed  based on the  weighted  average  number of
     common shares outstanding for each year. Diluted earnings per share reflect
     the  potential  effects of the exercise of  outstanding  stock  options and
     warrants.

     RECLASSIFICATIONS
     Certain prior year amounts have been  reclassified to conform with the 1997
     presentation.  Such  reclassifications  have no  impact  on net  income  or
     stockholders' equity.

     ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
     The  preparation of the Company's  financial  statements in conformity with
     generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make
     estimates and  assumptions  that affect the reported  amounts of assets and
     liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
     of the  financial  statements  and the  reported  amounts of  revenues  and
     expenses during the reported periods.  Actual results may differ from those
     estimates.


2.   ACQUISITIONS

     MID-DEL EMPLOYMENT  SERVICE,  INC.; SUSSEX EMPLOYMENT  SERVICES,  INC.; PPI
     (PRESTIGE PERSONNEL) - SALISBURY,  INC.; AND DEL-MAR-VA NURSES-ON-CALL INC.
     On  July  17,  1995,  the  Company  purchased  certain  assets  of  Mid-Del
     Employment Service,  Inc.; Sussex Employment Services,  Inc.; PPI (Prestige
     Personnel)  -  Salisbury,   Inc.;   and  Del-Mar-Va   Nurses-On-Call   Inc.
     (collectively, "the Maryland and Delaware companies"). These companies were
     engaged  in  the  temporary  staffing  business  in  eastern  Maryland  and
     Delaware.   The  all-cash   purchase   price  of  $969,000   (inclusive  of
     acquisition-related  costs of $19,000) was accounted for under the purchase
     method of accounting,  which resulted in $944,000 of intangible  assets and
     $25,000 of fixed assets.

     STREGE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
     Effective December 11, 1995, the Company purchased certain assets of Strege
     & Associates,  Inc., a company  specializing  in providing  highly  skilled
     tradesmen to various  industries for  maintenance  and  supplemental  labor
     purposes in Portland,  Oregon. Of the $1,141,000  purchase price (inclusive
     of acquisition-related  costs of $4,000), the Company paid $230,000 in cash
     and issued 67,443 shares of its common stock with a then-fair  market value
     of $911,000. The acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of
     accounting, which resulted in $1,136,000 of intangible assets and $5,000 of
     fixed assets.

                                      F-8
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


2.   ACQUISITIONS (CONTINUED)

     STAFFAMERICA, INC.
     On April 1, 1996, the Company  acquired  certain assets and the business of
     StaffAmerica,  Inc.,  pursuant to a Plan and  Agreement of  Reorganization.
     StaffAmerica  provides both temporary  staffing and staff leasing  services
     through its two offices located in Goleta and Oxnard,  California. In 1995,
     StaffAmerica  had revenues of approximately  $6.7 million.  In exchange for
     the StaffAmerica assets and business operations, the Company issued 157,464
     shares of its common stock  valued at  $2,795,000,  assumed a  StaffAmerica
     liability  of  $50,000  for  customer  deposits,  issued to each of the two
     owners  of  StaffAmerica  845  shares  of  Company  common  stock for their
     covenants  not to compete,  and  incurred  $102,000 in  acquisition-related
     costs.  The  acquisition  was  accounted  for under the purchase  method of
     accounting, which resulted in $2,597,000 of intangible assets, a promissory
     note receivable of $324,000 from the seller, and $56,000 in fixed assets.
     The $324,000 promissory note was repaid to the Company during 1997.

     On April 11, 1997,  pursuant to the Plan and  Agreement  of  Reorganization
     between  StaffAmerica,  Inc. and the Company,  the Company repurchased from
     StaffAmerica  and its two  shareholders  all 159,154 shares of common stock
     previously issued by the Company as consideration for the acquisition,  for
     a total of  $2,824,984  or $17.75 per share.  Upon  completion of the share
     repurchase, the Company canceled the shares of common stock.

     JOBWORKS AGENCY, INC.
     On April 8, 1996, the Company  acquired  certain assets and the business of
     JobWorks  Agency,  Inc.  (JobWorks)  by  way  of a Plan  and  Agreement  of
     Reorganization. JobWorks provided both temporary staffing and staff leasing
     services  through  its two  offices  located in Hood River and The  Dalles,
     Oregon.  JobWorks had revenues of approximately $1.2 million (unaudited) in
     1995. The Company issued 20,446 shares of its common stock with a then-fair
     value of  $380,000  for the  assets and  business  of  JobWorks,  assumed a
     customer   deposit   liability   of  $2,000,   and   incurred   $14,000  in
     acquisition-related costs. The Company paid $20,000 in cash for the selling
     shareholder's  agreement of  noncompetition.  The acquisition was accounted
     for under the purchase method of accounting,  which resulted in $324,000 of
     intangible  assets,  $72,000 in accounts  receivable,  and $20,000 in fixed
     assets.

     CASCADE TECHNICAL STAFFING
     Effective  August 26, 1996, the Company  acquired certain assets of Cascade
     Technical  Staffing   (Cascade).   Cascade  provided  technical  and  light
     industrial staffing services primarily in the electronics  industry through
     its Beaverton,  Oregon office.  Cascade had revenues of approximately  $3.5
     million  (unaudited)  in 1995.  The Company  paid  $550,000 in cash for the
     assets and incurred $6,000 in  acquisition-related  costs.  The acquisition
     was accounted for under the purchase  method of accounting,  which resulted
     in $536,000 of intangible assets and $20,000 of fixed assets.

     CALIFORNIA EMPLOYER SERVICES, INC.
     Effective  November  4,  1996,  the  Company  purchased  the staff  leasing
     division of California  Employer  Services,  Inc.  (CES), an Orange County,
     California  staffing  services  company.  The CES  division had revenues of
     approximately $10.5 million (unaudited) for the fiscal year ended September
     30, 1996.  The Company paid  $624,000 in cash for the  division,  assumed a
     customer   deposit   liability  of  $36,000,   and   incurred   $25,000  in
     acquisition-related  costs.  The  transaction  was  accounted for under the
     purchase  method of  accounting,  which  resulted in $685,000 of intangible
     assets.

                                      F-9
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


2.   ACQUISITIONS (CONTINUED)

     PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL, INC.
     Effective  November  25,  1996,  the Company  purchased  certain  assets of
     Professional  Personnel,  Inc. (PPI), a provider of staff leasing  services
     located in Downey,  California.  PPI had  revenues  of  approximately  $2.4
     million (unaudited) for the year ended September 30, 1996. The Company paid
     $176,000 in cash for certain assets,  assumed a customer deposit  liability
     of  $19,000,  and  incurred  $2,000  in   acquisition-related   costs.  The
     transaction  was  accounted  for under the purchase  method of  accounting,
     which resulted in $195,000 of intangible assets and $2,000 of fixed assets.

     HR ONLY
     Effective  February 1, 1997, the Company acquired D&L Personnel  Department
     Specialists,   Inc.,  dba  HR  Only,  a  staffing  services  company  which
     specializes  in human resource  professionals,  with offices in Los Angeles
     and Garden Grove,  California.  The Company paid $1,800,000 in cash for all
     of the  outstanding  common  stock  of HR Only and  $1,200,000  in cash for
     noncompete  agreements with certain  individuals,  of which  $1,000,000 was
     deferred  with  simple  interest at 5% per annum for five years and then be
     paid ratably over the succeeding  five-year period. The deferred portion of
     the  noncompete  agreement  is  presented  on the  balance  sheet  in other
     long-term liabilities. HR Only's revenues for the fiscal year ended January
     31, 1997 were approximately $4.3 million. The transaction was accounted for
     under the purchase  method of  accounting,  which resulted in $3,027,000 of
     intangible  assets,  including $92,000 for  acquisition-related  costs, and
     $65,000 of net tangible assets.

     TLC STAFFING
     Effective  April 13,  1997,  the Company  purchased  certain  assets of JRL
     Services,  Inc., dba TLC Staffing, a provider of clerical staffing services
     located in Tucson,  Arizona.  TLC Staffing  had  revenues of  approximately
     $800,000 (unaudited) for the year ended December 31, 1996. The Company paid
     $150,000 in cash for the assets,  assumed an $18,000 office lease liability
     and incurred  $4,000 in acquisition  related  costs.  The  transaction  was
     accounted for under the purchase  method of  accounting,  which resulted in
     $152,000 of intangible assets and $2,000 of fixed assets.

     PRO FORMA RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
     The operating results of each of the above acquisitions are included in the
     Company's  results of operations  from the respective  date of acquisition.
     The following unaudited summary presents the combined results of operations
     as if the StaffAmerica,  Cascade Technical  Staffing,  California  Employer
     Services,  and HR Only  acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of 1996,
     after  giving  effect  to  certain  adjustments  for  the  amortization  of
     intangible  assets,  taxation and cost of capital.  The other  acquisitions
     made since January 1, 1996 are not included in the pro forma information as
     their effect is not material.

                                                            YEAR ENDED
                                                           DECEMBER 31,
                                                         1997           1996
                                                    -------------  -------------
     (in thousands, except per share amounts)
     Revenue                                        $     281,361  $     232,280
                                                    =============  =============
     Net income                                     $       3,829  $       5,284
                                                    =============  =============
     Basic earnings per share                       $         .57  $         .78
                                                    =============  =============
     Diluted earnings per share                     $         .56  $         .76
                                                    =============  =============

                                      F-10
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


2.   ACQUISITIONS (CONTINUED)

     The unaudited  pro forma  results above have been prepared for  comparative
     purposes  only and do not  purport  to be  indicative  of what  would  have
     occurred  had the  acquisitions  been made as of that  date,  or of results
     which may occur in the future.


3.   FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

     All of the Company's  significant  financial  instruments are recognized in
     its balance sheet.  Carrying values  approximate  fair market value of most
     financial  assets  and  liabilities.  The  fair  market  value  of  certain
     financial instruments was estimated as follows:

     -   Marketable securities - Marketable securities primarily consist of U.S.
         Treasury bills and municipal bonds. The interest rates on the Company's
         marketable  security  investments  approximate current market rates for
         these  types  of  investments;  therefore,  the  recorded  value of the
         marketable securities approximates fair market value.

     -   Long-term  debt - The interest  rates on the Company's  long-term  debt
         approximate  current market rates, based upon similar  obligations with
         like  maturities;  therefore,  the  recorded  value of  long-term  debt
         approximates the fair market value.

     Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration
     of credit risk consist primarily of temporary cash investments,  marketable
     securities, and trade accounts receivable. The Company restricts investment
     of  temporary  cash  investments  and  marketable  securities  to financial
     institutions  with high credit ratings and to  investments in  governmental
     debt instruments. Credit risk on trade receivables is minimized as a result
     of the large and diverse nature of the Company's customer base. At December
     31,  1997,  the Company had  significant  concentrations  of credit risk as
     follows:

     -   Marketable securities - $2,155,000 of marketable securities at December
         31, 1997 consisted of Oregon State Housing & Community Service Bonds.

     -   Trade  receivables  -  $2,500,000  of trade  receivables  were with two
         customers at December 31, 1997 (13% of trade receivables outstanding at
         December 31, 1997).

                                      F-11
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


4.   INTANGIBLES

     Intangibles consist of the following (in thousands):


<TABLE>
                                                                                         1997            1996
                                                                                   --------------   --------------

<S>                                                                                  <C>             <C>         
      Covenants not to compete                                                       $     3,269     $      2,049
      Goodwill                                                                            12,925           10,985
      Customer lists                                                                         358              358
                                                                                   --------------   --------------
                                                                                          16,552           13,392
      Less accumulated amortization                                                        4,458            3,166
                                                                                   --------------   --------------
                                                                                     $    12,094     $     10,226
                                                                                   --------------   --------------
</TABLE>


5.   PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

     Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):


<TABLE>
                                                                                         1997            1996
                                                                                   --------------   --------------

<S>                                                                                  <C>               <C>       
     Office furniture and fixtures                                                   $     2,884       $    2,360
     Computer hardware and software                                                        1,683              677
     Buildings                                                                             1,201            1,183
     Vehicles                                                                                 55               60
                                                                                   --------------   --------------
                                                                                           5,823            4,280
     Less accumulated depreciation                                                         1,868            1,477
                                                                                   --------------   --------------
                                                                                           3,955            2,803
     Land                                                                                    308              308
                                                                                   --------------   --------------
                                                                                     $     4,263       $    3,111
                                                                                   --------------   --------------
</TABLE>

6.   ACCRUED WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIM LIABILITIES

     In August 1987, the Company became a self-insured  employer with respect to
     workers'  compensation  coverage for all its employees working or living in
     Oregon.  The  Company  also became a  self-insured  employer  for  workers'
     compensation  coverage in the states of Maryland  effective  November 1993,
     Washington  effective  July 1994,  Delaware  effective  January  1995,  and
     California  effective  March 1995.  Effective  May 1995,  the Company  also
     became self-insured for workers' compensation purposes by the United States
     Department of Labor for longshore and harbor ("USL&H") workers' coverage.

                                      F-12
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


6.   ACCRUED WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIM LIABILITIES (CONTINUED)

     The Company has provided $3,772,000 and $2,853,000 at December 31, 1997 and
     1996,  respectively,  as an  estimated  liability  for  unsettled  workers'
     compensation claims. This estimated liability represents  management's best
     estimate which includes,  in part, an evaluation of information provided by
     the  Company's  third-party  administrators  and its  independent  actuary.
     Included in the claims  liabilities are case reserve estimates for reported
     losses,  plus additional  amounts based on projections for incurred but not
     reported  claims,  anticipated  increases  in case  reserve  estimates  and
     additional claims administration  expenses. These estimates are continually
     reviewed and adjustments to liabilities are reflected in current operations
     as they become  known.  The Company  believes that the  difference  between
     amounts  recorded for its  estimated  liability  and the possible  range of
     costs of settling  related claims is not material to results of operations;
     nevertheless, it is reasonably possible that adjustments required in future
     periods may be material to results of operations.

     The United States  Department of Labor and the States of Oregon,  Maryland,
     Washington,  and  California  require  the  Company to  maintain  specified
     investment balances or other financial instruments,  totaling $7,698,000 at
     December 31, 1997 and  $7,151,000 at December 31, 1996, to cover  potential
     claims losses. In partial  satisfaction of these requirements,  at December
     31,  1997,  the  Company  has  provided  letters of credit in the amount of
     $2,096,000 and surety bonds totaling $457,000. The investments are included
     in restricted  marketable  securities and workers' compensation deposits in
     the accompanying balance sheets.

     Liabilities  incurred for  work-related  employee  fatalities  are recorded
     either at an agreed lump-sum  settlement amount or the net present value of
     future fixed and  determinable  payments  over the  actuarially  determined
     remaining life of the beneficiary, discounted at a rate that approximates a
     long-term,  high-quality  corporate  bond rate.  The Company  has  obtained
     excess workers' compensation insurance to limit its self-insurance exposure
     to $350,000 per  occurrence in all states,  except for $300,000 in Maryland
     and  $500,000  per  occurrence  for USL&H  exposure.  The excess  insurance
     provides unlimited coverage above the aforementioned exposures. At December
     31, 1997, the Company has recorded  $632,000 for work-related  catastrophic
     injuries and fatalities in long-term workers'  compensation  liabilities in
     the accompanying balance sheets.

     The aggregate undiscounted pay-out amount for the catastrophic injuries and
     fatalities is $1,570,000. The actuarially determined pay-out periods to the
     beneficiaries range from nine years to 44 years. As a result, the five-year
     cash requirements related to these claims are immaterial.

     The  workers'  compensation  expense  in  the  accompanying  statements  of
     operations   consists  of   $8,099,000,   $5,799,000   and  $5,802,000  for
     self-insurance expense for 1997, 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  Premiums in
     the insured states were $47,000,  $139,000 and $271,000 for 1997,  1996 and
     1995, respectively.

                                      F-13
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


7.   CREDIT FACILITY

     Effective May 30, 1997, the Company  renegotiated  its loan agreement ("the
     Agreement")  with a  major  bank,  which  provides  for  (a)  an  unsecured
     revolving  credit  facility for working capital  purposes,  (b) a term real
     estate loan (Note 8) and (c) standby letters of credit totaling $2,096,000,
     in connection with certain workers'  compensation surety arrangements.  The
     Agreement expires on May 31, 1998 and currently permits total borrowings of
     up to $4,000,000 under the revolving  credit  facility.  The interest rates
     available  Federal  on  outstanding  balances  under the  revolving  credit
     facility include Prime Rate, Funds Rate plus 1.75%, or Adjusted  Eurodollar
     Rate plus  1.25%.  Under the loan  agreement,  the  Company is  required to
     maintain a zero  outstanding  balance against the revolving credit facility
     for a minimum of 30 consecutive  days during each year. The pledging of any
     of the  Company's  assets,  other  than  existing  mortgages  on  its  real
     property, is limited to a pro rata basis with any other lender.

     During the year ended  December 31, 1997, the maximum  balance  outstanding
     under the revolving  credit  facility was  $3,556,000,  the average balance
     outstanding was $1,412,000,  and the weighted  average interest rate during
     the period was 7.3%.  The weighted  average  interest  rate during 1997 was
     calculated using daily weighted  averages.  There were no borrowings on the
     revolving credit facility during 1996.

8.   LONG-TERM DEBT

     Long-term debt consists of the following:

<TABLE>
                                                                                 1997            1996
                                                                             -----------     -----------
                                                                                     (IN THOUSANDS)

<S>                                                                          <C>             <C>       
      Mortgage  note  payable  in  monthly  installments  of  $2,784,
       including interest at 11% per annum  through  1998,  with a
       principal  payment of $269,485 due in 1998, secured by land
       and building                                                          $      273      $      276
      Mortgage  note  payable  in  monthly  installments  of  $6,730,
       including interest at 8.15% per annum  through 2003, with a
       principal  payment of $366,900 due in 2003, secured by land
       and building (Note 7)                                                        566             598
      Capitalized lease equipment with monthly installments of
        $2,965, including interest at 11.5% per annum through 1998,
        secured by equipment                                                         15               -
                                                                             ----------      ----------
                                                                                    854             874
      Less portion due within one year                                              323              36
                                                                             ----------      ----------
                                                                             $      531      $      838
                                                                             ==========      ==========
</TABLE>

                                      F-14
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


8.   LONG-TERM DEBT (CONTINUED)

     Maturities on long-term debt are summarized as follows at December 31, 1997
(in thousands):

      YEAR ENDING
      DECEMBER 31,
- -------------------------

          1998                                $     323
          1999                                       39
          2000                                       42
          2001                                       45
          2002                                       49
       Thereafter                                   356
                                              ----------
                                              $     854
                                              ==========

9.   SAVINGS PLAN

     On April 1, 1990, the Company established a Section 401(k) employee savings
     plan for the benefit of its eligible  employees.  All employees 21 years of
     age or older  become  eligible  to  participate  in the  savings  plan upon
     completion  of 1,000 hours of service in any  consecutive  12-month  period
     following  the  initial  date  of  employment.  Employees  covered  under a
     co-employer (PEO) contract receive credit for prior employment with the PEO
     client for  purposes  of meeting  savings  plan  service  eligibility.  The
     determination  of Company  contributions to the plan, if any, is subject to
     the sole  discretion  of the  Company.  Participants'  interests in Company
     contributions  to  the  plan  vest  over  a  seven-year   period.   Company
     contributions  to the plan were  $111,000,  $134,000  and  $142,000 for the
     years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

     Recent  attention  has been placed by the Internal  Revenue  Service  ("the
     IRS") and the staff leasing  industry on IRC Section 401(k) plans sponsored
     by staff leasing companies. As such, the tax-exempt status of the Company's
     plan is subject to  continuing  scrutiny and approval by the IRS and to the
     Company's  ability to support  to the IRS the  Company's  employer-employee
     relationship with leased employees. In the event the tax-exempt status were
     to be discontinued and the plan were to be disqualified,  the operations of
     the Company could be adversely  affected.  The Company has not recorded any
     provision  for this  potential  contingency,  as the  Company and its legal
     counsel cannot presently estimate either the likelihood of disqualification
     or the resulting range of loss, if any.

                                      F-15
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


10.  COMMITMENTS

     LEASE COMMITMENTS
     The Company  leases its branch  offices under  operating  lease  agreements
     which require minimum annual payments as follows (in thousands):

            YEAR ENDING
            DECEMBER 31,
         -------------------
                1998                          $     834
                1999                                630
                2000                                399
                2001                                226
                2002                                 81
                                              ---------
                                              $   2,170
                                              =========

     Rent  expense  for the years ended  December  31,  1997,  1996 and 1995 was
     approximately $1,139,000, $799,000 and $607,000, respectively.


11.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     During 1997,  1996 and 1995, the Company  recorded  revenues of $4,047,000,
     $4,086,000  and   $3,753,000,   respectively,   and  cost  of  revenues  of
     $3,719,000, $3,768,000 and $3,408,000, respectively, for providing services
     to a company of which a then  director  of the Company  was  president  and
     majority  stockholder.  At December  31,  1997 and 1996,  Barrett had trade
     receivables from this company of $188,000 and $126,000, respectively.

     At December 31, 1993,  the  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of the
     Company,  pursuant  to the  approval  of a  majority  of the  disinterested
     outside  directors,  agreed  to  personally  guarantee,  at no  cost to the
     Company,  the  repayment  of  a  $111,000  receivable  from  an  unrelated,
     insolvent customer.  During 1995,  pursuant to this agreement,  the Company
     exercised  its right to the personal  guarantee  provided by the  Company's
     Chief  Executive   Officer.   Accordingly,   the  Chief  Executive  Officer
     surrendered to the Company 7,400 shares of common stock of Barrett Business
     Services,  Inc.,  with a then-fair  market  value of $111,000 or $15.00 per
     share, in satisfaction of the guarantee.  The Company  subsequently retired
     the shares and the par value of the shares was  reclassified  to additional
     paid-in capital.  The  uncollectible  account was included in the Company's
     provisions for doubtful accounts during 1993 and 1994.

                                      F-16
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


12.  INCOME TAXES

     The provisions for income taxes are as follows (in thousands):

<TABLE>
                                                                            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                   1997               1996              1995
                                                              ----------------   ----------------  ----------------
        Current:
<S>                                                            <C>                <C>               <C>           
          Federal                                              $        2,471     $        2,681    $        2,067
          State                                                           479                476               463
                                                              ----------------   ----------------  ----------------
                                                                        2,950              3,157             2,530
                                                              ----------------   ----------------  ----------------

        Deferred:
          Federal                                                        (535)              (283)              (19)
          State                                                          (112)               (59)               (4)
                                                              ----------------   ----------------  ----------------
                                                                         (647)              (342)              (23)
                                                              ----------------   ----------------  ----------------
        Total provision                                        $        2,303     $        2,815    $        2,507
                                                              ================   ================  ================
</TABLE>

     Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are comprised of the following components
(in thousands):

<TABLE>
                                                                                    1997              1996
                                                                               ----------------  ----------------
<S>                                                                             <C>               <C>           
        Accrued workers' compensation claim liabilities                         $        1,469    $        1,113
        Allowance for doubtful accounts                                                    236                10
        Tax depreciation in excess of book depreciation                                   (165)             (154)
        Safety incentives                                                                  276               281
        Amortization of intangibles                                                        110                29
                                                                               ----------------  ----------------
                                                                                $        1,926    $        1,279
                                                                               ================  ================
</TABLE>

     The effective tax rate  differed from the U.S.  statutory  federal tax rate
due to the following:

<TABLE>
                                                                           YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                  1997               1996              1995
                                                              --------------     --------------    --------------
<S>                                                                    <C>                <C>               <C>   
        Statutory federal tax rate                                     34.0 %             34.0 %            34.0 %
        State taxes, net of federal benefit                             3.5                3.5               4.6
        Nondeductible amortization of intangibles                       1.3                 .1                .1
        Federal tax-exempt interest income                             (1.0)              (1.4)             (1.3)
        Other, net                                                      (.2)               (.3)               .6
                                                              --------------     --------------    --------------
                                                                       37.6 %             35.9 %            38.0 %
                                                              ==============     ==============    ==============
</TABLE>

     During  1997,  the  Company  recognized  a State of  Oregon  tax  credit of
     approximately  $121,000  related  to the 1996 tax year.  During  1996,  the
     Company  recognized a State of Oregon  surplus tax refund of  approximately
     $145,000 related to tax years 1993 through 1995.

                                      F-17
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


13.  REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK AND NONREDEEMABLE STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

     REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK
     As part of the 1996  acquisition of  StaffAmerica  discussed in Note 2, the
     Company  granted "put  rights" to certain  shareholders  that  required the
     Company to redeem 159,154 shares of its common stock at a redemption  price
     of $17.75 per share for a total of $2,824,984 on April 11, 1997.

     At  December  31,  1996,  the  shares of common  stock  subject to the "put
     rights" are  presented in the  accompanying  balance  sheets as  redeemable
     common  stock.  Such shares were  recorded at their fair market value as of
     the date of  acquisition.  Such  fair  market  value  equaled  the  maximum
     redemption amount.


14.  STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

     As of March 1, 1993,  the  Company  adopted the 1993 Stock  Incentive  Plan
     ("the  Plan")  which  provides  for  stock-based  awards  to the  Company's
     employees,  non-employee  directors,  and outside  consultants or advisors.
     Effective May 14, 1997, the Company's  stockholders approved an increase in
     the number of shares of common stock  reserved for issuance  under the Plan
     from 800,000 to 1,300,000.

     The options generally become exercisable in four equal annual  installments
     beginning one year after the date of grant,  and expire ten years after the
     date of  grant.  Under the terms of the  Plan,  the  exercise  price of the
     options must be not less than the fair market value of the Company's  stock
     on the date of grant.  The number of  options  and the price per share have
     been restated to reflect the 2-for-1 stock split effective May 23, 1994.

     In connection  with its initial public offering in 1993, the Company issued
     200,000  warrants to its  underwriters and related parties for the purchase
     of shares of the Company's common stock exercisable in whole at any time or
     in part  from time to time  commencing  June 11,  1994 at $4.20 per  share,
     after giving effect to the 2-for-1 stock split. A total of 170,000 warrants
     have been exercised through December 31, 1997 for proceeds of $714,000. The
     remaining unexercised warrants expire on June 10, 1998.

                                      F-18
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


14.  STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (CONTINUED)

     A summary of the status of the Company's  stock option plan at December 31,
     1997,  1996 and 1995,  together with changes during the periods then ended,
     is presented below.

<TABLE>
                                                                                                    WEIGHTED
                                                                                                    AVERAGE
                                                                                                    EXERCISE
                                                                                OPTIONS              PRICE
                                                                            -----------------   -----------------

<S>                                                                                  <C>         <C>            
        Outstanding at December 31, 1994                                             306,575     $          7.36
        Options granted at market price                                              151,500               14.31
        Options granted above market price                                            70,000               16.36
        Options exercised                                                            (13,950)               6.19
        Options canceled or expired                                                  (17,500)               7.52
                                                                            -----------------

        Outstanding at December 31, 1995                                             496,625               10.78
        Options granted at market price                                              137,498               16.63
        Options exercised                                                            (83,625)               6.77
        Options canceled or expired                                                  (58,500)              17.70
                                                                            -----------------

        Outstanding at December 31, 1996                                             491,998               12.27
        Options granted at market price                                              219,871               14.54
        Options exercised                                                            (77,375)               9.46
        Options canceled or expired                                                  (39,375)              13.87
                                                                            -----------------
        Outstanding at December 31, 1997                                             595,119               13.50
                                                                            =================
        Available for grant at December 31, 1997                                     503,756
                                                                            =================
</TABLE>


     The  Company  applies  APB  Opinion  25  and  related   interpretations  in
     accounting  for the Plan.  Accordingly,  no  compensation  expense has been
     recognized for its stock option grants.  Had  compensation  expense for the
     Company's  stock-based  compensation plan been determined based on the fair
     market value at the grant date for awards under the Plan,  consistent  with
     the method of  Statement  of Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 123, the
     Company's  net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the
     pro forma amounts indicated below:

<TABLE>
                                                                          1997            1996           1995
                                                                      -------------   -------------  -------------
        (in thousands, except per share amounts)
<S>                                                                    <C>             <C>            <C>        
        Net income, as reported                                        $     3,825     $     5,036    $     4,118
        Net income, pro forma                                                3,344           4,664          3,857
        Basic earnings per share, as reported                                  .57             .75            .64
        Basic earnings per share, pro forma                                    .50             .69            .60
        Diluted earnings per share, as reported                                .56             .73            .62
        Diluted earnings per share, pro forma                                  .49             .67            .58
</TABLE>

                                      F-19
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


14.  STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (CONTINUED)

     The effects of applying SFAS No. 123 for  providing  pro forma  disclosures
     for 1997, 1996 and 1995 are not likely to be  representative of the effects
     on reported net income for future years,  because options vest over several
     years and additional awards generally are made each year.

     The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using
     the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, with the following weighted-average
     assumptions used for grants in 1997, 1996 and 1995:

<TABLE>
                                                                          1997            1996           1995
                                                                      -------------   -------------  -------------
<S>                                                                          <C>             <C>            <C>  
        Expected volatility                                                    42%             41%            41%
        Risk free rate of return                                             6.25%           6.10%          6.10%
        Expected dividend yield                                                 0%              0%             0%
        Expected life (years)                                                  7.5             7.0            7.0
</TABLE>

     Total fair value of options  granted  at market  price was  computed  to be
     $1,809,662,  $1,227,834  and  $1,165,925  for the years ended  December 31,
     1997, 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  Total fair value of options granted at
     110% above  market  price was  computed to be  $531,300  for the year ended
     December 31, 1995. Such options were granted to the chief executive officer
     in 1995. The weighted  average value of options  granted in 1997,  1996 and
     1995 was $8.23, $8.93 and $5.26, respectively.

     The following table summarizes  information about stock options outstanding
at December 31, 1997:

<TABLE>
                                OPTIONS OUTSTANDING                                    OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
          -----------------------------------------------------------------       ------------------------------
                                                                WEIGHTED
                                                                 AVERAGE           EXERCISABLE       WEIGHTED
             EXERCISE                           WEIGHTED        REMAINING              AT             AVERAGE
              PRICE             NUMBER          AVERAGE        CONTRACTUAL        DECEMBER 31,       EXERCISE
              RANGE            OF SHARES         PRICE            LIFE                1997             PRICE
          ---------------     ------------     -----------     ------------       --------------    ------------
<S>       <C>                     <C>          <C>                     <C>               <C>        <C>        
          $         3.50           33,000      $     3.50              5.4               33,000     $      3.50
           8.75 -   9.50           66,250            9.42              6.1               35,750            9.35
          10.75 -  12.07           83,860           11.69              8.8               20,000           11.00
          13.37 -  14.88          202,000           14.39              8.4               49,500           14.40
          15.00 -  18.69          210,009           16.22              6.7               73,708           15.80
</TABLE>

     At  December  31,  1997,  1996 and 1995,  211,958,  126,500 and 82,875 were
     exercisable  at  weighted  average  exercise  prices of $12.02,  $10.80 and
     $7.04, respectively.


15.      LITIGATION

     The Company is subject to legal  proceedings  and claims which arise in the
     ordinary course of its business.  In the opinion of management,  the amount
     of ultimate  liability  with  respect to  currently  pending or  threatened
     actions is not  expected to  materially  affect the  financial  position or
     results of operations of the Company.

                                      F-20
<PAGE>


BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


16.  QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
                                                 FIRST            SECOND             THIRD            FOURTH
                                                QUARTER           QUARTER           QUARTER           QUARTER
                                            ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
                                                          (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
        Year ended December 31, 1995
<S>                                         <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>            
          Revenues                          $        39,005   $        44,270   $        49,308   $        45,933
          Cost of revenues                           35,526            39,351            43,050            40,100
          Net income                                    344             1,039             1,513             1,223
          Basic earnings per share                      .06               .16               .23               .19
          Diluted earnings per share                    .05               .16               .23               .18

        Year ended December 31, 1996
          Revenues                                   42,888            51,558            59,666            59,814
          Cost of revenues                           37,872            45,411            53,073            53,318
          Net income                                    827             1,305             1,661             1,243
          Basic earnings per share                      .13               .19               .25               .18
          Diluted earnings per share                    .12               .19               .24               .18

        Year ended December 31, 1997
          Revenues                                   62,086            69,568            79,455            69,897
          Cost of revenues                           55,982            62,425            71,602            62,891
          Net income                                    830             1,254               947               794
          Basic earnings per share                      .12               .19               .14               .12
          Diluted earnings per share                    .12               .18               .14               .12
</TABLE>

                                      F-21
<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


3.1      Charter of the  registrant,  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.

3.2      Bylaws of the  registrant,  as amended.  Incorporated  by  reference to
         Exhibit 3.2 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
         ended December 31, 1996.

4.1      Loan Agreement between the registrant and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., dated
         May  30,  1997.  Incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  4.1  to  the
         registrant's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
         30, 1997.

                  The registrant has incurred other long-term indebtedness as to
                  which  the  amount  involved  is less than 10  percent  of the
                  registrant's  total assets.  The registrant  agrees to furnish
                  copies of the instruments relating to such indebtedness to the
                  Commission upon request.

10       Executive  Compensation  Plans and  Arrangements  and Other  Management
         Contracts.

10.1     1993 Stock Incentive Plan of the registrant as amended. Incorporated by
         reference to Exhibit  10.1 to the  registrant's  Annual  Report on Form
         10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.

10.2     Form of Indemnification Agreement with each director of the registrant.
         Incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.8  to  the   registrant's
         Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-61804).

10.3     Deferred Compensation Plan for Management Employees of the registrant.

11       Statement of calculation of Basic and Diluted shares outstanding.

23       Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants.

24       Power of attorney of certain officers and directors.

27.1     Financial Data Schedule, fiscal year end 1997.

27.2     Financial Data Schedule,  fiscal year ends 1995 and 1996 and Qtrs. 1, 2
         and 3 of 1996.

27.3     Financial Data Schedule, Qtrs. 1, 2 and 3 of 1997.




                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

                           DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

                            FOR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES

         This DEFERRED  COMPENSATION PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT  EMPLOYEES (the "Plan")
is  adopted  by  BARRETT  BUSINESS  SERVICES,   INC.,  a  Maryland   corporation
("Corporation"), effective December 1, 1997.

                                    ARTICLE 1

                                 PURPOSE OF PLAN

         The continued  growth and success of Corporation are dependent upon its
ability to attract and retain the services of  executives  and key  employees of
the highest competence and to provide incentives for their effective service and
superior  performance.  The purpose of the Plan is to advance the  interests  of
Corporation and its shareholders  through a deferred  compensation  program that
will attract and retain executives and key employees.

                                    ARTICLE 2

                                 NATURE OF PLAN

         This Plan is intended to be and shall be administered by Corporation as
an income tax nonqualified, unfunded plan primarily for the purpose of providing
deferred  compensation  for a "select group of management or highly  compensated
employees" within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1)

                                      - 1 -

<PAGE>

of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

                                    ARTICLE 3

                              SPONSORING EMPLOYERS

         The  corporations   whose  employees  are  covered  by  the  Plan  (the
"Sponsoring  Employers") are Corporation and any corporation that is a member of
a controlled  group of corporations  (within the meaning of Code Section 414(b))
of which  Corporation is a member,  whose board of directors adopts a resolution
to be a Sponsoring Employer.

                                    ARTICLE 4

                                   ELIGIBILITY

         Any employee who performs services for a Sponsoring Employer during the
plan year and who receives  Compensation from the Sponsoring  Employer in excess
of $80,000 in the preceding  plan year shall be eligible to  participate in this
Plan ("Eligible Employee").

                                    ARTICLE 5

                                  PARTICIPATION

         5.1  ELECTION.  An Eligible  Employee  may  participate  in the Plan by
filing with  Corporation  an election,  on a form  provided by  Corporation  (an
"Election"),  to participate in the Plan and a life insurance  application form.
An Eligible  Employee who makes an Election shall be a "Participant,"  provided,
however,  that if it is  determined  by the  Committee  that the  proposed  life
insurance  policy  cannot be obtained in a cost  efficient  manner after medical
underwriting requirements have

                                      - 2 -

<PAGE>

been met, the  Participant  shall not be eligible to receive  death  benefits in
accordance  with Section  9.2(a) of the Plan.  Each Election  shall be in a form
prescribed by  Corporation,  and shall set forth the  Participant's  election to
participate in the Plan, the percentage or amount of Compensation (as defined in
Section 5.4) to be deferred,  and a payment method  pursuant to Section 9.1. The
Election on record for a calendar  quarter shall apply to salary paid during the
quarter and to  commissions  or bonuses  earned  during that quarter even if not
paid until the following quarter.

         5.2 DEFERRED  AMOUNTS.  A Participant  may elect to defer a flat dollar
amount  or a  percentage  of  Compensation  that  shall not  exceed  100% of the
Participant's  Compensation.  The minimum  contribution  that may be made in any
calendar year shall not be less than $5,000.

         5.3 TIME FOR FILING ELECTION;  AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF ELECTION. An
Initial  Election  to defer  Compensation  must be  filed  with  Corporation  by
December 1, 1997, and is effective the first payroll period on or after December
1, 1997. An employee who becomes an Eligible  Employee  after  December 1, 1997,
shall have 30 days from the date he or she becomes an Eligible  Employee to make
an Initial  Election.  Such election shall be effective for the remainder of the
calendar quarter.  An Eligible Employee who fails to defer  Compensation  during
the Initial Election period may make an Election to defer Compensation effective
the first  payroll  period of the next  calendar  quarter.  An Election to defer
Compensation is effective until amended or terminated.

                                      - 3 -

<PAGE>

An Election may be amended or terminated  by filing an Amendment or  Termination
of Deferral  Election in a form prescribed by Corporation not later than 15 days
prior  to the end of the  previous  calendar  quarter.  Such  Election  shall be
effective the first payroll period of the next calendar quarter. An Election for
any calendar quarter may not be amended, modified,  revoked, or terminated after
the beginning of such calendar  quarter.  A Participant who has made an Election
and who ceases to be an Eligible Employee shall be deemed to have terminated his
or her  Election  for all  remaining  calendar  quarters  that  begin  after the
Participant ceases to be an Eligible Employee.

         5.4 COMPENSATION.

         (a) Except as  provided  in  subsection  5.4(b),  for  purposes of this
Article 5, "Compensation" means regular cash compensation, including commissions
and any awards or  bonuses  payable  under any  incentive  compensation  plan or
program maintained by the Sponsoring Employers.

         (b) For purposes of this Article 5, "Compensation" does not include any
employee  elected   contribution  or  purchase  of  benefits  or  any  incentive
compensation  under any plan or  program  of any  Sponsoring  Employer  which is
specifically  designated  by the  Committee as  ineligible  for purposes of this
Article 5.

                                    ARTICLE 6

                                DEFERRED ACCOUNTS

         6.1  DEFERRED  ACCOUNTS.  All  Deferred  Amounts  shall be withheld and
credited  to the  Participant's  "Deferred  Account"  as of the last day of each
month in which they are deducted from the

                                      - 4 -

<PAGE>

Participant's  Compensation.  Each  Participant's  Deferred  Account  shall have
separate subaccounts, each of which corresponds to an investment fund elected by
the  Participant  pursuant to Section 6.2.  Each  Deferred  Account and separate
subaccount shall be maintained solely for recordkeeping purposes.

         6.2  "AS  IF"  INVESTMENT   FUNDS.   For  all  amounts  credited  to  a
Participant's Deferred Account, the Participant may designate one or more of the
investment funds (the "As If Funds")  available under the Plan as the measure of
return  for  the  respective  subaccounts  as if  the  amounts  credited  to the
subaccounts had actually been invested in such investment funds. The Participant
may specify that all or any multiple of his or her Deferred Account (equal to or
greater than 10% in whole percentage increments) be deemed to be invested in one
or more of the As If Funds. The Sponsoring Employers shall have no obligation to
actually invest funds in the investment  funds  corresponding to a Participant's
designated  As If Funds.  The As If Funds shall serve solely as a mechanism  for
determining the amounts to be credited to a Participant's  separate  subaccounts
pursuant to Section 6.4. A Participant may designate new As If Fund  investments
and  change  existing  As If  Fund  investments  effective  as of the end of the
calendar month.

         6.3 ACCRUALS.  Each Deferred Account shall accrue additional amounts as
described in Sections 6.4 and 6.5 from the date Deferred Amounts are credited to
the Deferred  Account pursuant to Section 6.1 until the date of final payment of
the balance of the Deferred Account.

                                      - 5 -

<PAGE>

         6.4 SUBACCOUNTS.  As of the last day of each month, each  Participant's
separate  subaccount  shall be credited with an amount  equivalent to the return
that would have been  obtained had the balance of the separate  subaccount  been
invested in the As If Fund specified by the Participant.

         6.5  DISCRETIONARY  EMPLOYER  CONTRIBUTION.  As of the last day of each
calendar year, each  Participant's  Deferred  Account shall be credited with any
discretionary  employer  contribution,   if  Corporation  determines  that  such
contribution shall be made.

                                    ARTICLE 7

                               SOURCE OF BENEFITS

         7.1 UNFUNDED PLAN. This Plan and the benefits  payable  hereunder shall
be unfunded and shall be payable only from the general  assets of the Sponsoring
Employers.  The Sponsoring Employers do not represent that a specific portion of
their assets will be used to provide the  benefits  hereunder.  Participants  or
beneficiaries  shall  not  have  any  interest  in any  assets  of a  Sponsoring
Employer.  Nothing in this Plan shall be deemed to create a trust of any kind or
create any  fiduciary  relationship.  To the extent  that any person  acquires a
right to receive  payments from any Sponsoring  Employer  under this Plan,  such
rights shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured  general  creditor of
such Sponsoring Employer.

         7.2 TRUST.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sponsoring Employers may
deposit moneys under the Barrett Business Services,  Inc., Deferred Compensation
Umbrella Trust

                                      - 6 -

<PAGE>

Agreement (the "Trust") for the purpose of paying benefits  hereunder from those
moneys and the income thereon,  unless such Trust assets are required to satisfy
the obligations of the Sponsoring Employers to their general creditors.

                                    ARTICLE 8

                                     VESTING

         A Participant's  deferred  Compensation and any investment  earnings or
losses shall be 100% vested at all times.

         The  following  vesting  schedule  shall  apply  to  any  discretionary
employer contributions, if made:

                Years of Service                Percent Vested
                ----------------                --------------
                       1                              0%
                       2                              0%
                       3                             20%
                       4                             40%
                       5                             60%
                       6                             80%
                       7                            100%

                                    ARTICLE 9

                        PAYMENT OF DEFERRED COMPENSATION

         9.1 PAYMENT OPTIONS.  Each  Participant  shall set forth in the Initial
Election an election of one of the  following  methods of payment of the accrued
balance of the Participant's Deferred Account:

         (a) A lump-sum cash payment;

                                      - 7 -

<PAGE>

         (b) Payment in five substantially equal quarterly installments;

         (c) Payment in ten substantially equal quarterly installments; or

         (d) Payment in 15 substantially equal quarterly installments.

Any quarterly installment payment shall be reduced by applicable  administrative
charges.  If no  method of  payment  is  effectively  elected,  a  Participant's
Deferred  Account shall be paid in cash in a single lump sum. A Participant  may
modify the method of payment  that he or she has  previously  elected,  provided
such  modification  occurs  at least  one year  before  the  date  payments  are
scheduled to commence.  If a Participant ceases to be employed by any Sponsoring
Employer and has a Deferred  Account  balance of $25,000 or more,  the method of
payment  shall be as elected by the  Participant  during  the  Initial  Election
period, or as subsequently  modified.  If a Participant ceases to be employed by
any Sponsoring Employer and has a Deferred Account balance of less than $25,000,
the method of payment  shall be a  lump-sum  cash  payment.  All  payments  made
pursuant to this Section 9.1 shall be made as soon as administratively  feasible
after the first day of the month  following  the end of the quarter in which the
termination date occurs.

         9.2 DEATH BENEFIT.

         (a) In the  case  of a  Participant  who  dies  while  employed  by any
Sponsoring   Employer,  a  $100,000  lump-sum  payment  shall  be  made  to  the
Participant's beneficiary. The benefit

                                      - 8 -

<PAGE>

payable  pursuant  to this  paragraph  (a) shall  only be paid if the  insurance
company determines that the Participant is insurable and shall be subject to all
conditions and exceptions set forth in the applicable insurance policy.

         (b) If a Participant  dies while employed by any  Sponsoring  Employer,
the  Participant's  Deferred Account shall be paid in a lump-sum cash payment to
the  Participant's  beneficiary  or,  if no  beneficiary  has  been  effectively
designated,  to the  Participant's  estate within 90 days after a  Participant's
death.  If a  Participant  dies  while  receiving  quarterly  installments,  the
remaining quarterly installments shall be paid to the Participant's beneficiary,
or, if none, to the Participant's estate, as they become payable.

         9.3 HARDSHIP WITHDRAWALS.  The Committee,  in its sole discretion,  may
accelerate payment of the balance of the vested portion of a Deferred Account if
a Participant  requests  payment and the Committee  finds that an  unforeseeable
emergency  exists,  but only to the extent needed to satisfy the  emergency.  An
unforeseeable  emergency  is a  severe  financial  hardship  to the  Participant
resulting from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant or
of a dependent  (as defined in Section  152(a) of the Code) of the  Participant,
loss  of  the  Participant's   property  due  to  casualty,   or  other  similar
extraordinary  and  unforeseeable  circumstances  arising  as a result of events
beyond the control of the Participant. The circumstances that will constitute an
unforeseeable  emergency  will depend  upon the facts of each case,  but, in any
case,

                                      - 9 -

<PAGE>

Payment may not be made to the extent that such hardship is or may be relieved--

         (a) Through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise;

         (b) By  liquidation  of the  Participant's  assets,  to the  extent the
    liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship;
    or

         (c) By cessation of deferrals under the Plan.  Examples of what are not
    considered  to be  unforeseeable  emergencies  include  the  need  to send a
    Participant's  child  to  college  or the  desire  to  purchase  a  home.  A
    Participant  shall be  permitted  only two Hardship  Withdrawals  during all
    periods of Plan participation.

         9.4  DISTRIBUTION  WITH  SCHEDULED  WITHDRAWAL  DATE.  In the case of a
Participant who has elected a distribution date for an in-service  withdrawal of
all amounts of Compensation deferred in a particular plan year, and earnings and
losses attributable  thereto, (a "Scheduled  Withdrawal Date"), such Participant
shall receive his or her Deferred  Account for the  particular  plan year on the
Scheduled Withdrawal Date in a lump-sum cash payment (or in installment payments
if eligible). A Participant's  Scheduled Withdrawal Date with respect to amounts
of  Compensation  deferred in a particular  plan year may be no earlier than two
years from the last day of the plan year for which the deferrals of Compensation
are made.  A  Participant  may  extend  the  Scheduled  Withdrawal  Date for the
deferral of Compensation  for any plan year,  provided such extension  occurs at
least one year before the

                                     - 10 -

<PAGE>

Scheduled Withdrawal Date and is for a period of not less than one year from the
Scheduled Withdrawal Date. In the event a Participant terminates employment with
any Sponsoring Employer prior to a Scheduled Withdrawal Date, the portion of the
Participant's  Deferred Account associated with Scheduled  Withdrawal Dates that
have not occurred  prior to such  termination  shall be  distributed  as soon as
administratively  feasible after the first day of the month following the end of
the quarter in which the termination date occurs.

         9.5 EARLY  DISTRIBUTIONS.  A Participant  shall be permitted to elect a
withdrawal  of amounts  from his or her Deferred  Account  prior to the time the
Participant   would   otherwise   be  entitled   to  such   amounts  (an  "Early
Distribution"), subject to the following restrictions:

         (a) The election to take an Early  Distribution shall be made by filing
    a form provided by and filed with the Committee.

         (b) The amount of the Early Distribution shall be paid in a single cash
    lump-sum payment as soon as practicable  after the end of the calendar month
    in which the Early Distribution election is made.

         (c) If a  Participant  receives  an  Early  Distribution  of his or her
    Deferred Account,  such Participant shall forfeit 10% of the gross amount to
    be distributed from the Participant's Deferred Account.

         (d) If a Participant  receives an Early Distribution of either all or a
    part of his or her

                                    - 11 -

<PAGE>

    Deferred Account,  the Participant shall be ineligible to participate in the
    Plan for the balance of the plan year and for the following plan year.

                                   ARTICLE 10

                                 ADMINISTRATION

         The Plan shall be  administered  by the Committee.  The Committee shall
have the exclusive  authority and  responsibility  for all matters in connection
with the operation and  administration  of the Plan. The Committee's  powers and
duties shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

              (a)  Responsibility  for the  compilation  and  maintenance of all
         records necessary in connection with the Plan;

              (b)  Authorizing  the payment of all  benefits and expenses of the
         Plan as they become payable under the Plan; and

              (c)  Authority  to  engage  such  legal,  accounting,   and  other
         professional services as it may deem proper.

         Decisions by the Committee  shall be final and binding upon all parties
affected  by  the  Plan,   including   Participants  and  the  beneficiaries  of
Participants.

         The Committee may rely on information and  recommendations  provided by
supervisory management. The Committee may delegate to a subcommittee composed of
less  than  all  Committee  members  or to  supervisory  management  who are not
Committee members the  responsibility  for decisions that it may make or actions
that it may take under the terms of the Plan,

                                     - 12 -

<PAGE>

subject to the  Committee's  reserved  right to review such decisions or actions
and modify them when  necessary  or  appropriate  under the  circumstances.  The
Committee  shall not allow any  employee to obtain  control  over  decisions  or
actions that affect that employee's Plan benefits.

                                   ARTICLE 11

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         11.1  NONASSIGNABILITY OF BENEFITS. A Participant's  benefits under the
Plan, including the right to receive payment of the Deferred Account,  cannot be
sold, transferred, anticipated, assigned, pledged, hypothecated, seized by legal
process, subjected to claims of creditors in any way, or otherwise disposed of.

         11.2 GOVERNING  LAW. This Plan and any  amendments  shall be construed,
administered, and governed in all respects in accordance with applicable federal
law and the laws of the State of Oregon.

         11.3 NO RIGHT OF CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT. Nothing in the Plan shall confer
upon any person the right to continue in the employ of any  Sponsoring  Employer
or interfere in any way with the right of any  Sponsoring  Employer to terminate
the person's employment at any time.

         11.4  WITHHOLDING  TAXES.  The  Sponsoring  Employer shall withhold any
taxes  required  by law to be withheld in  connection  with  payment of deferred
compensation  under this Plan.  In the event any  Sponsoring  Employer  shall be
required  to withhold  taxes with  respect to amounts  deferred  pursuant to the
Plan, the

                                     - 13 -

<PAGE>

Sponsoring  Employer  shall have the right to require a Participant to reimburse
them for any such taxes.

                                   ARTICLE 12

                                CLAIMS PROCEDURE

         12.1 INITIAL  CLAIM.  Any person  claiming any benefit  under this Plan
(the  "Claimant")  shall present a claim in writing (a "Claim") to Corporation's
President  or a  Vice  President  serving  on  the  Committee  (the  "Designated
Officer").

         12.2 DECISION ON INITIAL CLAIM.

         (a) Time  Period for  Denial  Notice.  A decision  shall be made on the
Claim  as soon as  practicable  and  shall be  communicated  in  writing  by the
Designated  Officer to the Claimant within a reasonable  period after receipt of
the  Claim by the  Designated  Officer.  In no event  shall the  decision  on an
initial  Claim be given  more than 90 days  after the date the Claim was  filed,
unless special  circumstances  require an extension of time for  processing.  If
there is an extension,  the Claimant shall be notified of such within 90 days of
the date the Claim was filed.  The extension  notice shall  indicate the special
circumstances and the date by which a decision is expected.  The extension shall
not exceed 90 days from the end of the initial response period.

         (b) Contents of Notice. If the Claim is wholly or partially denied, the
Claimant shall be given a written notice of denial which shall indicate:

         (i) The specific reasons for the denial;

         (ii) The specific  references to pertinent Plan provisions on which the
    denial is based;

                                     - 14 -

<PAGE>

         (iii) A description of additional material or information necessary for
    the Claimant to perfect the Claim and an explanation of why such material or
    information is necessary; and

         (iv) An explanation of the Plan's Claim review procedure.

         (c)  Deemed  Denied.  If  written  notice  of the  decision  wholly  or
partially  denying  the Claim has not been  furnished  within 90 days  after the
Claim is filed or there has been an  extension  and no notice of a  decision  is
furnished  by the end of the  extension  period,  and if the  Claim has not been
granted  within such period,  the Claim shall be deemed  denied as of the end of
the 90-day or 180-day  period for  purposes of  proceeding  to the review  stage
described in 12.3 and 12.4.

         12.3 REVIEW OF DENIED CLAIM. If a Claimant  receives a notice of denial
or his or her Claim is deemed  denied  pursuant to 12.2 above,  the Claimant may
request a review of the Claim.  The  request  for  review is made by  personally
delivering  or mailing a written  request  for  review,  prepared  by either the
Claimant  or  his or  her  authorized  representative,  to  the  Committee.  The
Claimant's  request for review must be made within a  reasonable  period of time
taking into  consideration the nature of the benefit which is the subject of the
Claim and other  attendant  circumstances.  In no event  shall  the  period  for
requesting review expire less than 60 days after receipt of the notice of denial
or the date on which the Claim is deemed denied if no notice is received. If

                                     - 15 -

<PAGE>

the written request for review is not made on a timely basis, the Claimant shall
be deemed to waive his or her right to review.  The  Claimant or his or her duly
authorized  representative  may,  at or after  the time of making  the  request,
review all pertinent documents and submit issues and comments in writing.

         12.4  DECISION  ON  REVIEW.  A  review  shall be  promptly  made by the
Committee  after  receipt of a timely  filed  request for review.  A decision on
review  shall be made and  furnished  in writing to the  Claimant.  The decision
shall be made not later than 60 days after receipt of the request for review. If
special  circumstances  require an extension of time for processing (such as the
need to hold a hearing),  a decision shall be made and furnished to the Claimant
not later than 120 days after such  receipt.  If an extension  is required,  the
Claimant  shall be  notified of such within 60 days after the request for review
was filed. The written decision shall include the reasons for such decision with
reference to the  provisions  of the Plan upon which the decision is based.  The
decision  shall be final and binding upon the Claimant and  Corporation  and its
subsidiaries  and all other persons  involved.  If the decision on review is not
furnished within the applicable time period, the Claim shall be deemed denied on
review.

         The scope of any subsequent  review of the benefit  Claim,  judicial or
otherwise, shall be limited to a determination as to whether the Committee acted
arbitrarily or capriciously in the exercise of its discretion. In no event shall
any such further review be on a de novo basis as the Committee has

                                     - 16 -

<PAGE>

discretionary  authority to determine  eligibility  for benefits and to construe
the terms of this Plan.

                                   ARTICLE 13

                           AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

         Corporation's  Board of Directors has the power to terminate  this Plan
at any time or to amend this Plan at any time and in any manner that it may deem
advisable.  In the  event of  termination  of the  Plan,  compensation  deferred
pursuant  to the  Plan  prior to the  effective  date of the  termination  shall
continue to be subject to the provisions of the Plan as if the Plan had not been
terminated.

         IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF  this  Plan  was  executed  as of the  23rd day of
December, 1997. 

                              BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.


                         By:  /s/ K. Risa Olsen

                         Its  Vice President


                                     - 17 -


                        BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
        STATEMENT OF CALCULATION OF BASIC AND DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING


<TABLE>
                                                             Three Months       Year
                                                                 Ended          Ended
                                                             Dec. 31, 1997  Dec. 31, 1997
                                                             -------------  -------------

<S>                                                            <C>            <C>      
Weighted average number of basic shares outstanding            6,738,826      6,750,523

 Stock option plan shares to be issued at prices
    ranging from $3.50 to $18.00 per share                       559,658        532,615

 Warrant issues at a price of $4.20 per share                     30,000         47,308

 Less:  Assumed purchase at average market price
         during the period using proceeds received
         upon exercise of options and purchase of
         stock, and using tax benefits of compensation
         due to premature dispositions                          (516,724)      (445,327)
                                                               ---------      ---------

 Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding         6,811,760      6,885,119
                                                               =========      =========
</TABLE>

                                                                      EXHIBIT 23

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in  the  Registration
Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 33-71792,  33-55117, 33-52871 and 333-33487) and in
the  Prospectus  constituting  part of the  Registration  Statements on Form S-3
(Nos. 33-62979,  333-07751 and 333-24449) of Barrett Business Services,  Inc. of
our report dated  February 11, 1998  appearing on page F-1 of this Annual Report
on Form 10-K.





PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

Portland, Oregon
March 31, 1998



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose  signature  appears below  designates and appoints  WILLIAM W.
SHERERTZ  and  MICHAEL  D.  MULHOLLAND,  and  either  of them,  true and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact  and agents to sign the Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Barrett
Business Services, Inc., a Maryland corporation, for the year ended December 31,
1997, and to file said report,  with all exhibits  thereto,  with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934. Each person
whose  signature  appears  below also grants full power and  authority  to these
attorneys-in-fact  and agents to perform  every act and execute any  instruments
that they deem necessary or desirable in connection  with said report,  as fully
as he  could  do in  person,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all  that  the
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 each of the
undersigned as of the 11th day of March, 1998.

SIGNATURE                           TITLE


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

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

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

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

/s/ Herbert L. Hochberg             Director
Herbert L. Hochberg

/s/ Anthony Meeker                  Director
Anthony Meeker

/s/ Stanley G. Renecker             Director
Stanley G. Renecker


<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
company's  balance  sheets and related  statements of operations  for the period
ended  December  31, 1997 and is  qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                           3,380
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   19,366
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                25,752
<PP&E>                                           4,263
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  48,410
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           15,139
<BONDS>                                            531
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                            67
<OTHER-SE>                                      30,077
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    48,410
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               281,006
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  252,900
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 162
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  6,128
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,303
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              3,825
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,825
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.57
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.56
        


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
Company's  balance  sheets and related  statements of operations for the periods
ended December 31, 1995,  December 31, 1996,  March 31, 1996,  June 30, 1996 and
September  30,  1996 and is  qualified  in its  entirety  by  reference  to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED>
<MULTIPLIER>                       1,000
       
<S>                         <C>                 <C>                <C>              <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     12-mos             12-mos              3-mos             6-mos               9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>            Dec-31-1995        Dec-31-1996        Dec-31-1996       Dec-31-1996         Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>               Jan-01-1995        Jan-01-1996        Jan-01-1996       Jan-01-1996         Jan-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                 Dec-31-1995        Dec-31-1996        Mar-31-1996       Jun-30-1996         Sep-30-1996
<CASH>                             3,218              1,901              4,392             3,909               4,956
<SECURITIES>                           0                  0                  0                 0                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                     13,151             19,057             12,877            16,177              17,409
<ALLOWANCES>                           0                  0                  0                 0                   0
<INVENTORY>                            0                  0                  0                 0                   0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                  17,784             23,475             18,856            21,693              24,638
<PP&E>                             2,261              3,111              2,247             2,400               2,435
<DEPRECIATION>                         0                  0                  0                 0                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    31,273             42,646             33,335            38,998              42,246
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>              9,367             11,918             10,501            11,429              12,782
<BONDS>                              875                838                866               857                 848
                  0                  0                  0                 0                   0
                            0                  0                  0                 0                   0
<COMMON>                              66                 66                 66                66                  66
<OTHER-SE>                        19,968             25,496             20,865            22,589              24,249
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      31,273             42,646             33,335            38,998              42,246
<SALES>                                0                  0                  0                 0                   0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                 178,516            213,926             42,888            94,446             154,112
<CGS>                                  0                  0                  0                 0                   0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                    158,027            189,673             37,872            83,283             136,356
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                       0                  0                  0                 0                   0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0                  0                  0                 0                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    75                 82                 21                42                  62
<INCOME-PRETAX>                    6,625              7,851              1,333             3,438               5,828
<INCOME-TAX>                       2,507              2,815                506             1,306               2,036
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                4,118              5,036                827             2,132               3,792
<DISCONTINUED>                         0                  0                  0                 0                   0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0                  0                  0                 0                   0
<CHANGES>                              0                  0                  0                 0                   0
<NET-INCOME>                       4,118              5,036                827             2,132               3,792
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          0.64               0.75               0.13              0.32                0.57
<EPS-DILUTED>                          0.62               0.73               0.12              0.31                0.55
                            


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
Company's  balance  sheets and related  statements of operations for the periods
ended March 31, 1997,  June 30, 1997 and  September 30, 1997 and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED>
<MULTIPLIER>                       1,000
       
<S>                         <C>                 <C>                <C>           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      3-mos              6-mos              9-mos   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>            Dec-31-1997        Dec-31-1997        Dec-31-1997   
<PERIOD-START>               Jan-01-1997        Jan-01-1997        Jan-01-1997   
<PERIOD-END>                 Mar-31-1997        Jun-30-1997        Sep-30-1997   
<CASH>                             1,615                459              1,754   
<SECURITIES>                           0                  0                  0   
<RECEIVABLES>                     21,337             22,686             24,376   
<ALLOWANCES>                           0                  0                  0   
<INVENTORY>                            0                  0                  0   
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                  25,694             26,063             29,043   
<PP&E>                             3,203              3,641              4,035   
<DEPRECIATION>                         0                  0                  0   
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    47,635             48,706             51,728   
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>             14,560             16,923             18,989   
<BONDS>                              849                819                810   
                  0                  0                  0   
                            0                  0                  0   
<COMMON>                              67                 67                 67   
<OTHER-SE>                        26,830             28,336             29,283   
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      47,635             48,706             51,728   
<SALES>                                0                  0                  0   
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                  62,087            131,655            211,110   
<CGS>                                  0                  0                  0   
<TOTAL-COSTS>                     55,983            118,408            190,010   
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                       0                  0                  0   
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0                  0                  0   
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    25                 67                127   
<INCOME-PRETAX>                    1,350              3,406              4,857   
<INCOME-TAX>                         520              1,322              1,826   
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  830              2,084              3,031   
<DISCONTINUED>                         0                  0                  0   
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0                  0                  0   
<CHANGES>                              0                  0                  0   
<NET-INCOME>                         830              2,084              3,031   
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          0.12               0.31               0.45
<EPS-DILUTED>                          0.12               0.30               0.44
                            


</TABLE>


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