UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the period ended September 23, 2000.

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ______ to ______

Commission file number 1-11427

NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE, INC.
----------------------------------
(Exact name of the registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware 04-2942374
-------- ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)

500 Main Street
Groton, Massachusetts, 01471
----------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

(978) 448-6111
--------------
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Sections 13 and 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
--- ---

The number of common shares of the Registrant outstanding on November 3, 2000
was 13,214,467.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
- ------------------------------
Item 1. Financial Statements
- ----------------------------

NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)

(unaudited)
Sept. 23, June 24,
2000 2000
-------- --------

ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,718 $ 3,469
Accounts receivable - net 68,450 55,483
Inventories 39,204 24,578
Direct mail advertising and prepaid expenses 19,315 16,445
Deferred income tax benefit 8,430 8,241
-------- --------
Total current assets 139,117 108,216
Property and Equipment - net 67,314 64,406
Deferred Income Tax Benefit 15,718 8,796
Goodwill - net 73,933 60,567
Customer Lists - net 22,113 23,974
Tradenames - net 30,588 30,792
Long-Term Investments 13,369 13,369
Other Assets - net 13,511 13,551
-------- --------
TOTAL ASSETS $375,663 $323,671
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable $ 25,767 $ 18,951
Accrued expenses 36,078 32,484
Current portion of long term debt 924 819
-------- --------
Total current liabilities 62,769 52,254
Long Term Debt 179,672 135,110
Deferred Income Taxes 10,578 10,578

STOCKHOLDERS'EQUITY
Common stock 15,453 15,399
Additional paid-in capital 51,189 50,337
Unamortized value of restricted stock awards (270) (115)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,904) (3,399)
Retained earnings 105,425 105,278
-------- --------
Total 167,893 167,500
Less Treasury stock, at cost (45,249) (41,771)
-------- --------
Stockholders' Equity 122,644 125,729
-------- --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $375,663 $323,671
======== ========

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME
(In thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Three Months Ended
Sept. 23, Sept. 25,
2000 1999
--------- ---------

NET SALES $131,170 $113,424
Cost of sales 51,975 39,949
-------- --------
GROSS PROFIT 79,195 73,475

OPERATING EXPENSES:
Selling and advertising 46,847 43,202
General and administrative 21,244 18,525
Exit costs 3,387 0
-------- --------
Total operating expenses 71,478 61,727
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 7,717 11,748
OTHER INCOME/(EXPENSE):
Interest income 53 15
Interest expense (3,140) (1,984)
-------- --------
INCOME BEFORE TAXES 4,630 9,779
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 1,806 3,802
-------- --------
NET INCOME $ 2,824 $ 5,977
======== ========
PER SHARE AMOUNTS:
Basic Earnings Per Share $ .21 $ .43
======== ========
Diluted Earnings Per Share $ .21 $ .42
======== ========
Dividends $ .20 $ .20
======== ========
BASIC WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING 13,403 13,988
Plus incremental shares from assumed
conversion of stock options 84 296
-------- --------
DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING 13,487 14,284
======== ========

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In Thousands)
(unaudited)

Three Months Ended
Sept. 23, Sept. 25,
2000 1999
--------- ---------

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Income $ 2,824 $ 5,977
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash:
Depreciation 4,364 3,618
Amortization 3,113 2,818
Loss on disposal of asset 92 24
Asset impairment loss 1,707 0
Deferred income taxes 0 32
Exit costs 3,236 (411)
Provision for losses on accounts receivable 1,180 1,076
Employee benefit charges 22 8
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (2,934) (2,284)
Inventories and prepaid expenses (4,187) (3,446)
Accounts payable 2,324 1,133
Income taxes payable 205 2,615
Accrued expenses (2,702) (2,180)
--------- ---------
Net cash provided by operating activities 9,244 8,980
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to property and equipment (5,713) (5,364)
Acquisition of business-net of cash acquired (38,575) 0
--------- ---------
Net cash used in investing activities (44,288) (5,364)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayment of debt (32,689) (27,000)
Proceeds from credit line 73,500 29,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 349 223
Acquisition of treasury stock (3,144) (4,486)
Dividends paid (2,678) (2,798)
--------- ---------
Net cash provided by (used in)financing 35,338 (5,061)
activities
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH (45) 27
--------- ---------
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 249 (1,418)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR 3,469 3,684
--------- ---------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD $ 3,718 $ 2,266
========= =========

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of Presentation/Accounting Policies
- --------------------------------------------
The consolidated financial statements contained in this report are unaudited
(except for June 24, 2000 amounts) but reflect all adjustments, consisting
only of normal recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management,
necessary for a fair statement of the results of the interim periods
reflected. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in
financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles have been omitted pursuant to applicable rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission. The consolidated financial statements
included herein should be read in conjunction with the financial statements
and notes thereto, and the Independent Auditors' Report in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 24, 2000. Reference
is made to the accounting policies of the Company described in the notes to
the consolidated financial statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended June 24, 2000. The Company has consistently
followed those policies in preparing this report. The results from operations
for the interim period reported herein are not necessarily indicative of
results to be expected for the full year.

2. Acquisitions
- ----------------
In fiscal 1998 the Company acquired McBee Systems, Inc. As part of the
purchase accounting for the acquisition, and included in the allocation of the
acquisition cost, a liability was recorded to cover the anticipated costs
related to a plan to close redundant McBee manufacturing and warehouse
facilities and to reduce manufacturing personnel. Approximately $1,642,000
was accrued. The remaining liability as of September 23, 2000 was $16,000 and
was related to employee termination benefits. For the three months ended
September 23, 2000, $132,000 had been spent to reduce this liability.

Should the integration liability for McBee be settled at amounts less than
their original estimates, the excess will reduce the amount of recorded
goodwill.

On July 10 2000, the Company acquired all the outstanding shares of
PremiumWear, Inc. The purchase price for the shares was $13.50 per share in
cash and totaled approximately $38,575,000 (net of cash acquired) plus debt
assumed of $3,856,000. The Company is presently undertaking, but has not yet
completed, an allocation of this purchase price, but anticipates that
approximately $14,000,000 will be allocated to certain intangible assets.
These intangible assets are anticipated to be amortized over approximately
20 years.

3. Restructuring and Impairment of Assets
- ----------------------------------------

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2001, the Company recorded a
restructuring charge of $3,387,000 to provide for costs primarily associated
with the Company's decision to more closely align its direct marketing and
direct sales activities. As part of the restructuring program the McBee US
headquarters will be relocated from Parsippany, New Jersey to the existing
RapidForms facility in Thorofare, New Jersey. In addition, the McBee
business forms manufacturing plant in Damascus, Virginia will be closed and
a portion of leased warehousing space currently occupied by Chiswick in
Sudbury, Massachusetts will be vacated. In Canada, the McBee sales and
marketing organization will be combined with NEBS Direct Marketing and
operate under the NEBS name. Approximately 140 employees will be affected
by the restructuring either through elimination of their positions or
relocation. Pursuant to this plan, the following charges and payments have
been recorded (unaudited):

Balance Charge Payments or Balance
Type of June 24, (credit) for reductions for Sept. 23,
Liability 2000 the period the period 2000
- --------- --------- ----------- ------------ ------------

Employee termination
benefit costs $- $2,114,000 $(25,000) $2,089,000

Facility closure
costs $- $1,273,000 $- $1,273,000

Additionally, during the first quarter, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $1,707,000 for
the write off of capitalized internal-use software related to an enterprise resource planning system the
Company no longer plans to implement.

After an income tax benefit of $1,987,000, these actions reduced first quarter 2001 earnings by
$3,107,000.

<PAGE

4. Inventories
- --------------
Inventories are generally carried at the lower of first-in, first-out cost
or market. Inventories at September 23, 2000 and June 24, 2000 consisted of:

(unaudited)
Sept. 23, June 24,
2000 2000
----------- -----------

Raw Material $ 2,595,000 $ 1,804,000
Work in Process 2,414,000 -
Finished Goods 34,195,000 22,774,000
---------- -----------
Total $39,204,000 $24,578,000
=========== ===========

5. Adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 133
Derivatives and Hedging Activities
-----------------------------------

In the first quarter of fiscal 2001, the Company adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities." Such adoption resulted in an initial
credit of $391,000 (net of tax) to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss.

The Company is exposed to interest rate risk relating to its variable
rate debt. As part of its overall strategy to manage the level of exposure
to the risk of interest rate fluctuations the Company uses interest rate
swaps which qualify and are designated as cash flow hedges.

On the date the Company enters into a derivative contract, management
designates the derivative as a hedge of the identified cash flow exposure.
The Company does not enter into derivative transactions that do not qualify
as hedging relationships.

The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments
and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for
undertaking various hedge transactions. In this documentation, the Company
specifically identifies the asset, liability, firm commitment, or forecasted
transaction that has been designated as a hedged item and states how the
hedging instrument is expected to hedge the risks related to the hedged item.
The Company formally measures effectiveness of its hedging relationships both
at the hedge inception and on an ongoing basis in accordance with its risk
management policy.

The Company may discontinue hedge accounting prospectively when it is
determined that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes
in the fair value or cash flows of a hedged item; when the derivative expires
or is sold, terminated, or exercised; or when the derivative is redesignated
to no longer be a hedge instrument.

As discussed above, the Company designates certain derivatives as cash flow
hedges. For all qualifying and highly effective cash flow hedges, the changes
in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in other comprehensive income
(OCI)(see note 6). There can be, however, a portion of the hedge that is
deemed "ineffective." For the quarter ending September 23, 2000, the Company's
ineffective portion of the hedge was immaterial to interest expense.

6. Comprehensive Income
- --------------------------

Other Comprehensive Income consists of foreign currency translation
adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on investments and changes in the fair
market value of cash flow hedges. Comprehensive income for the quarter ending
September 23, 2000 also includes the impact of the Company's adoption of
SFAS No. 133 discussed in note 5. The Company's comprehensive income is set
forth below (unaudited):

Three Months Ended
Sept. 23, Sept. 25,
2000 1999
----------- ----------

Net Income $ 2,824,000 $ 5,977,000

Change in foreign currency
translation adjustments, net (209,000) 229,000

Unrealized losses on interest
rate swaps, net of tax (687,000) -
----------- -----------
Other comprehensive income 1,928,000 6,206,000
before cumulative effect adjustment

Cumulative effect adjustment recorded
upon the adoption of SFAS 133 391,000 -
----------- -----------
Comprehensive Income $ 2,319,000 $ 6,206,000
=========== ===========

7. Financial Information by Business Segment
- --------------------------------------------
In the first quarter of 2001, the Company changed its internal reporting
for segments. This change was precipitated by the acquisition of
PremiumWear, Inc. and the realignment of the Company's international
subsidiaries. The Company has now identified five reportable segments. Prior
year figures have been reconfigured so as to match the current year
presentation. The first is "Direct Marketing-US" and represents those
business operations that sell primarily printed products such as checks and
business forms to small businesses through direct marketing in the United
States. The second segment, "Direct Sales-US," also sells checks and business
forms to small businesses; however, they sell primarily through distributors
or by directly selling to the customer in the United States. The third segment,
"Apparel", utilizes independent sales representatives to market its specialty
clothing products and to solicit orders from customers in the promotional
products/advertising specialty industry. "Packaging and Display Products",
the fourth segment, resells packaging and shipping supplies and retail signage
marketed through a combination of direct marketing and direct selling efforts.
The fifth segment, "International" sells products such as checks and business
forms to small businesses in Europe and Canada through direct marketing,
distributors or by directly selling to the customer.

The Company evaluates segment performance and allocates resources based on a
profit from operations measure. This measure is akin to income from operations
as reported on the statements of consolidated income in that it excludes
interest and other income and expense. This measure, however, also excludes
certain items that are reported within income from operations. These include
amortization, 401(k) expenses, integration charges, restructuring charges,
impairment charges and corporate overhead. The chief operating decision-maker,
in assessing segment results, does not consider these items. In order to
reconcile the segment numbers to the Company's income before income taxes,
adjustments representing the items listed above totaling $16,161,000 and
$9,755,000 for the three months ended September 23, 2000 and September 25,
1999, respectively, need to be made to the reported segment results.

Net sales and profit from operations for each of the Company's business
segments are set forth below (unaudited).

Packaging and
Direct Direct Display
Marketing-US Sales-US Apparel Products International Total
----------- ------------ ---------- ------- ------------- ------

Three months ended
Sept. 23, 2000

Net sales $63,710,000 $23,484,000 $16,065,000 $18,546,000 $9,365,000 $131,170,000
Profit from
operations 15,621,000 2,524,000 1,315,000 896,000 435,000 20,791,000
Less adjustments
listed
above 16,161,000
Income before
income taxes $4,630,000

Three months ended
Sept. 25, 1999

Net sales $65,537,000 $21,045,000 - $17,513,000 $9,329,000 $113,424,000
Profit from
operations 16,642,000 1,824,000 - 1,078,000 (10,000) 19,534,000
Less adjustments
listed
above 9,755,000
Income before
income taxes $9,779,000

<PAGE

8. New Accounting Pronouncements
- -------------------------------

In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff
Accounting Bulletin No. 101 "Revenue Recognition." This SAB was intended to
clarify certain elements of revenue recognition. It has been supplemented by a
"frequently asked questions" document and will be required to be implemented
by the Company no later than the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001. Management
believes that this SAB will not materially impact its revenue recognition
practices.

In July 2000, the Emerging Issues Task Force reached a consensus on Issue
No. 00-10, "Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs". The
consensus states that a seller of goods should classify fees attributable to
shipping and handling in the income statement as revenues. The Company
currently nets such fees against shipping and handling costs in the cost of
sales line. The consensus will be applied to financial statement presentation
no later than the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2001. Management will effect
such a reclassification, and will restate previous periods, as appropriate.
There will be no effect on reported net income. If such a reclass had been
made in the first quarter, the net sales and cost of sales line items would
have both increased by approximately $10.0 million.

9. Reclassifications
- ---------------------

Certain reclassifications have been made to the comparative period so as to
be in conformity with the current quarter presentation.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
and Results of Operations
- ---------------------------------

Overview
- --------

New England Business Service, Inc. (the "Company"), was founded in 1952,
incorporated in Massachusetts in 1955 and reincorporated in Delaware in 1986.
The Company designs, produces and distributes business forms, checks,
envelopes, labels, greeting cards, signs, stationery and related printed
products and distributes packaging, shipping and warehouse supplies, software,
work apparel and other business products through direct mail, direct sales,
telesales, dealers and the Internet to small businesses throughout the United
States, Canada, the United Kingdom and France. The Company also markets and
sells specialty apparel products through distributors and independent sales
representatives to the promotional products/advertising specialty industry
primarily in the United States.

The Company has identified five reportable segments. The first is
"Direct Marketing-US" and represents those business operations that sell
primarily printed products such as checks and business forms to small
businesses through direct marketing in the United States. The second segment,
"Direct Sales-US," also sells checks and business forms to small businesses;
however, they sell primarily through distributors or by directly selling to the
customer in the United States. The third segment, "Apparel", utilizes
independent sales representatives to market its specialty clothing products
and to solicit orders from customers in the promotional products/advertising
specialty industry. "Packaging and Display Products", the fourth segment,
resells packaging and shipping supplies and retail signage marketed through
a combination of direct marketing and direct selling efforts. The fifth
segment,"International" sells products such as checks and business forms to
small businesses in Europe and Canada through direct marketing, distributors
or by directly selling to the customer.

Any sentence followed by an asterisk (*) in this section constitutes a
forward-looking statement which reflects the Company's current expectations.
There can be no assurance the Company's actual performance will not differ
materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements due to the
important factors described in the section to this Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations titled "Certain
Factors That May Affect Future Results."

Results of Operations
- ---------------------

Net sales increased $17.8 million or 16% to $131.2 million in the first
quarter of fiscal year 2001 from $113.4 million in last year's first quarter.
The sales increase was composed of approximately a $19.5 million increase
associated with the Direct Sales US, Packaging and Display and Apparel
segments. Included in the sales increase of $19.5 million are the sales from
PremiumWear, Inc. which was acquired in July 2000, which contributed $16.0
million in net sales to the quarter's performance in the Apparel segment. The
increases in the other two segments approximated $3.5 million. These
increases were offset by a slight decline in sales of the Company's other
segments, Direct Marketing US and International.
<PAGE

For the first quarter of fiscal year 2001, cost of sales increased to 39.6%
of sales from 35.2% in last year's comparable period. The increase was due
primarily to the addition of PremiumWear, Inc., which incurs a higher cost of
sales as a percent of sales than in the Company's other businesses. Absent
PremiumWear, Inc. cost of sales approximated 34.9% of sales, a slight decrease
from first quarter 2000. Cost of sales as a percent of sales is anticipated
to remain consistent with the first quarter's results for the remainder of the
fiscal year.*

Selling and advertising expense decreased to 35.7% of sales in the first
quarter of fiscal year 2001 from 38.1% of sales in last year's comparable
quarter. The decrease was due primarily to the addition of PremiumWear, Inc.,
which has lower selling and advertising expense as a percentage of sales than
in the Company's other businesses. Selling and advertising expense as a
percentage of sales is expected to increase slightly for the remainder of the
fiscal year.*

General and administrative expense remained relatively consistent at 16.2%
and 16.3% of sales in the first quarter of fiscal year 2001 and 2000,
respectively. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2001 general and
administrative expenses included an asset impairment charge of $1,707,000,
which is discussed below. General and administrative expense as a percent of
sales is anticipated to be lower than the first quarter's results for the
remainder of the fiscal year.*

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2001, the Company recorded a
restructuring charge of $3,387,000 based on a decision to more closely align
its direct marketing and direct sales activities. The restructuring primarily
relates to employee termination benefit costs of $2,114,000 and facility
closure charges of $1,273,000 related primarily to lease termination.
Additionally, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $1,707,000 for
the write off of capitalized internal-use software related to an enterprise
resource planning system the Company no longer plans to implement. After an
income tax benefit of $1,987,000, these actions reduced first quarter 2001
earnings by $3,107,000.

Interest expense increased to 2.4% of sales in the first quarter of fiscal
year 2001 as compared to 1.7% of sales in last year's comparable quarter. The
increase is the result of acquisition-related debt incurred during the first
quarter and an increase in the effective interest rate due to higher market
rates versus the same quarter last year.

The provision for income taxes as a percentage of pre-tax income remained
relatively constant at 39.0% and 38.9% in the first quarter of fiscal years
2001 and 2000, respectively.

In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff
Accounting Bulletin No. 101''Revenue Recognition.'' This SAB was intended to
clarify certain elements of revenue recognition. It has been supplemented by a
"frequently asked questions" document and will be required to be implemented
by the Company no later than the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001. Management
believes that this SAB will not materially impact its revenue recognition
practices.

<PAGE

Liquidity and Capital Resources
- -------------------------------

Cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended September
23, 2000 was $ 9.2 million and represented an increase of $.2 million from the
$9.0 million provided in the comparable period last year. While net income
decreased period on period, the primary reason for the increase was the non-
cash exit costs and impairments. The cash flow improvements, however, were
somewhat tempered by increases in inventory and accounts receivable levels
resulting from the operational nature of PremiumWear, Inc.

Working capital at September 23, 2000 amounted to $76.3 million, including
$3.7 million of cash and short-term investments. At June 24, 2000, working
capital amounted to $56.0 million, including cash and short term investments
of $3.5 million. The $20.3 million increase in working capital during the
period is principally due the effect of the PremiumWear, Inc. acquisition in
July 2000, and higher mail inventory due to the seasonal nature of the
greeting card and workwear businesses.

Capital expenditures for the three months ended September 23, 2000 were $5.7
million versus the $5.4 million expended during last year's comparable period.
Capital expenditures in the first quarter of fiscal year 2001 included
facility infrastructure and office equipment improvements and manufacturing
related equipment. In addition, the effect of the PremiumWear, Inc. capital
expenditures are included in first quarter 2001 results. Capital expenditures
in the first quarter of fiscal year 2000 included expenditures for information
systems infrastructure and manufacturing related equipment. The Company
anticipates that total capital outlays will approximate $25.5 million in
fiscal year 2001.*

During the three months ended September 23, 2000, $3.1 million was spent to
repurchase 167,200 shares of the Company's common stock.

In addition to its present cash and short-term investment balances, the
Company has consistently generated sufficient cash internally to fund its
needs for working capital, dividends and capital expenditures. The Company
has, over time, amended the terms of its committed, unsecured, revolving line
of credit agreement in order to facilitate certain transactions. The total
committed line currently stands at $200 million. At September 23, 2000, the
Company had $177.5 million of outstanding debt under this credit facility.
The credit agreement contains various restrictive covenants, which, among
other things, require the Company to maintain certain minimum levels of
consolidated net worth and specific consolidated debt, and fixed charge
ratios. The Company is currently in compliance with these covenants.

In order to effectively fix the interest rate on a portion of the debt
outstanding under the revolving line of credit, the Company has entered into
interest rate swap agreements with several of the banks party to the credit
agreement. These swap agreements contain notional principal amounts and other
terms determined with respect to the Company's forecast of future cash flows
and borrowing requirements. At September 23, 2000, the notional principal
amount outstanding of the interest rate swap agreements totaled $127.5
million.

The Company anticipates that its current cash on hand, cash flow from
operations and additional availability under the line of credit will be
sufficient to meet the Company's liquidity requirements for its operations and
capital expenditures during fiscal year 2001.* However, the Company may
pursue additional acquisitions from time to time which would likely be funded
through the use of available cash, the issuance of stock, the obtaining of
additional credit, or any combination thereof.*

<PAGE

Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results
- ------------------------------------------------------------------

References in this section to "we", "us" and "our" refer to New England
Business Service, Inc.

We may make forward-looking statements in this report and in other documents
filed with the SEC, in press releases, and in discussions with analysts,
investors and others. These statements include:

? descriptions of our operational and strategic plans,
? expectations about our future sales and profits,
? views of conditions and trends in our markets, and
? other statements that include words like ''expects'', ''estimates'',
''anticipates'', ''believes'' and ''intends'', and which describe opinions
about future events.

You should not rely on these forward-looking statements as though they were
guarantees. These statements are based on our expectations at the time the
statements are made, and we are not required to revise or update
these statements based on future developments. Known and unknown risks may
cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially
different from those expressed or implied by these statements.

A majority of our sales and profits come from selling standardized business
forms, checks and related products by mail order, telesales and direct sales
to a target market consisting mainly of small businesses. We
believe that the critical success factors to compete in this market include
competitive pricing, breadth of product offering, product quality and the
ability to attract and retain a large number of individual customers. Known
material risks that may affect those critical success factors are described
below.

A majority of the sales in our newly-acquired apparel business come from
selling knit and woven sport shirts under labels licensed from third parties
to the promotional products/advertising specialty industry. We believe that
the critical success factors to compete in this market include product
quality, timely fulfillment of customer orders and brand awareness. Known
material risks that may affect those success factors are also described below.

Our printed product lines face increased competition from new sources, such
as office supply superstores and Internet-based vendors. Increased competition
may require us to reduce prices or offer other incentives in order to attract
new customers and retain existing customers, which could reduce our profits.

Low-price, high-volume office supply chain stores have entered our core
business of selling standardized business forms, checks and related products
to small businesses. Because of their size, these superstores have the
buying power to offer these products at competitive prices. These superstores
also offer the convenience of ''one-stop shopping'' for a broad array of
office supplies that we do not offer. In addition, national superstore
competitors have greater financial strength to reduce prices or increase
promotional discounts in order to seek or retain market share.

Recently, Internet-based vendors have begun to compete in our core business.
These vendors include both start-up ventures as well as the online sites of

the office supply national chains. One business model for many
Internet-based vendors is to seek market share as rapidly as possible through
significantly reduced prices and deep discounting.

If any of these new competitors seek to gain or retain market share through
price reductions or increased discounting, we may be forced to reduce our
prices or match the discounts in order to stay competitive, which could reduce
our profits.

Technological improvements may reduce our competitive advantage over our
smaller competitors, which could reduce our profits.

Historically, our relatively greater financial strength and size have
enabled us to offer a broader array of products, particularly those having a
complex construction, at lower prices than the small local and regional
dealers, distributors and printers who constitute our primary competition.
Improvements in the cost and quality of printing technology are enabling these
smaller competitors to gain access to products of complex design and
functionality at competitive costs. Increased competition from local and
regional competitors could force us to reduce our prices in order to attract
and retain customers, which could reduce our profits.

Because our long-term sales growth is dependent on our ability to
continually attract new customers in our target small business market,
economic events that adversely affect the small business economy may reduce
our sales and profits.

Average annual sales per customer of our core products have remained
relatively stable over time. As a result, we rely, in part, on continually
attracting new customers for these mature products. Our sales and profits
have been adversely affected in the past by recession-related contractions in
the small business economy. We expect that our sales and profits will continue
to be affected by changes in the levels of small business formations
and failures and from other economic events that affect the small business
economy generally.

Because our long-term sales growth is dependent on our ability to
continually attract new customers in our target small business market, changes
in the direct marketing industry that reduce our competitive advantage in
contacting prospective customers may reduce our sales and profits.

Growth in the total number of our direct mail customers depends on continued
access to high-quality lists of newly-formed small businesses. In the past,
our ability to compile proprietary prospect lists was a distinct
competitive advantage. However, the external list compilation industry has
grown more sophisticated and comprehensive lists of new small business
formations are now commercially available to our competitors. In
addition, the Internet has the potential to eliminate our advantage of scale
in direct marketing by providing all competitors, regardless of current size,
with access to prospective customers.

We currently rely on the speed of our delivery of promotional materials to
prospective customers to gain advantage over competitors. We are also
expanding our Internet product offerings and capabilities and seeking to
increase our visibility on the Internet. Notwithstanding these efforts, a

deterioration in our competitive advantage in contacting prospective customers
could reduce our sales and profits.

In addition, the enactment of privacy laws could constrain our ability to
obtain prospect lists or telemarket to prospective customers.

Increases in the cost of paper and in postal rates adversely impact our
costs, which we may be unable to offset by reducing costs in other areas or by
raising prices.

The cost of paper to produce our products, catalogs and advertising
materials makes up a significant portion of our total costs. We also rely on
the U.S. Postal Service to deliver most of our promotional materials. Prices
for the various types of paper that we use have been volatile, and we expect
them to continue to be so. Third class postal rates have generally increased
over the past ten years, at times significantly. We are not sure that we
will always be able to reduce costs in other areas or increase prices for our
products sufficiently to offset increases in paper costs and postal rates. If
we are unable to offset these cost increases, our profits will be
adversely affected.

Disruption in the services provided by certain of our critical vendors may
adversely affect our operating performance and profits.

In order to obtain favorable pricing, we have selected a limited number of
vendors to provide key services to our business. Examples of this are as
follows:

? MCI WorldCom provides most of the toll-free telephone lines that we use in
connection with our direct marketing business,
? we use United Parcel Service to deliver most of the products that we ship
to customers,
? we use R.R. Donnelley and Sons for the printing and processing of most of
the catalogs that we mail each year,
? we rely on the postal services of the countries in which we do business to
deliver our catalogs and other advertising to customers.

In the past, we have been adversely affected by disruption of some of these
services due to labor actions, system failures, adverse weather conditions and
other natural disasters. If there are future interruptions in service
from one or more of these vendors, we believe that there could be a
significant disruption to our business due to our inability to readily find
alternative service providers at comparable rates.

Sales of our standardized forms products face technological obsolescence and
changing customer preferences, which could reduce our sales and profits.

Our standardized business forms, checks and related products provide our
customers with financial and business records to manage their businesses.
Continual technological improvements have provided our target
customers in several market segments with alternative means to enact and
record business transactions. For example, the price and performance
capabilities of personal computers and related printers now provide a cost-
competitive means to print low-quality versions of our business forms on plain
paper. In addition, electronic transaction systems and off-the-shelf business

software applications have been designed to automate several of
the functions performed by our business form products.

In response to the gradual obsolescence of our standardized forms business,
we continue to develop our capability to provide custom and full-color
products. However, we have less of a cost advantage with these
products than with standardized forms, due to improvements in the cost and
quality of printing technology available to our smaller local and regional
competitors. We are also seeking to introduce new products that are
less susceptible to technological obsolescence. We may develop new products
internally, procure them from third party vendors, or obtain them through the
acquisition of a new business. We generally realize lower gross
margins on out-sourced products than on products that we manufacture
ourselves. The risks associated with the acquisition of new businesses are
described below.

If new printing capabilities and new product introductions do not continue
to offset the obsolescence of our standardized business forms products, there
is a risk that the number of new customers we attract and existing
customers we retain may diminish, which could reduce our sales and profits.
Decreases in sales of our historically high margin standardized business forms
products due to obsolescence could also reduce our gross margins. This
reduction could in turn adversely impact our profits unless we are able to
offset the reduction through the introduction of new high margin products and
services or realize cost savings in other areas.

Our growth strategy depends, in part, on the acquisition of complementary
businesses that address our target small business market.

The acquisition of complementary businesses that address our target small
business market has been important to our growth strategy. We intend to
continue this acquisition activity in the future. The success of
this activity depends on the following:

? our ability to identify suitable businesses and to negotiate agreements on
acceptable terms,
? our ability to obtain financing through additional borrowings, by issuing
additional shares of common stock, or through internally generated cash
flow, and
? our ability to achieve anticipated savings and growth and avoid disruption
to our existing businesses.

In evaluating a potential acquisition, we conduct a business, financial and
legal review of the target. This review is intended to support our assumptions
with respect to the projected future performance of the target and to
identify the benefits and risks associated with those assumptions. We cannot
be certain that our review will identify all potential risks associated with
the purchase, integration or operation of acquired businesses. Unanticipated
risks may adversely affect the benefits that we expect to obtain from any
given acquisition.

We source our apparel products from offshore third party manufacturers.
Difficulty in securing reliable sources for these products could adversely
affect our ability to maintain inventory levels that are adequate to satisfy
customer demand.

We purchase a majority of our apparel products either from "full package"
manufacturers in the Far East, Central and South America, or through 807
programs (assembly only) in Central America. In most cases these same
manufacturers supply other apparel companies, many of which are significantly
larger than our apparel business and are able, when necessary, to secure
preferential treatment from the manufacturers. The availability of product
from these manufacturers can also be adversely affected by social and economic
conditions in their respective regions. Any significant disruption in our
relationships with our current manufacturers could adversely affect our
apparel business to the extent we cannot readily find alternative sources of
supply at comparable levels of price and quality.
Inaccurate forecasting of the demand for specific styles and sizes could
reduce our sales and profits.
We believe that success in our apparel business depends in part on our
ability to immediately ship ordered products, either directly or through our
distributors. Given the relatively long lead time in procuring inventory, we
must estimate demand for specific styles and sizes well in advance of
receiving firm orders from customers in order to ensure the timely
availability of these products. Inaccurate forecasting of demand for specific
styles and sizes can result in either lost sales due to product
unavailability, or reduced margins from overstocked items.
Failure of our licensors to adequately promote our licensed brands and
protect those brands from infringement could reduce our sales and profits.
We believe that brand awareness is an important factor to the end-user of
our apparel products, and in that regard we market and sell a majority of our
apparel products under nationally-recognized brands licensed from third
parties. In each case the licensor is primarily responsible for promoting its
brand and protecting its brand from infringement. The failure of one or more
of our licensors to adequately promote or defend their brands could diminish
the perceived value of those brands to our customers, which could lead to
reduced sales and profits.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
The Company is exposed to a number of market risks, primarily the effects
of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. Investments
in and loans and advances to foreign subsidiaries and branches, and their
resultant operations, denominated in foreign currencies, create exposures to
changes in exchange rates. The Company's utilization of its revolving line of
credit creates an exposure to changes in interest rates. The effect of changes
in exchange rates and interest rates on the Company's earnings generally has
been small relative to other factors that also affect earnings, such as
business unit sales and operating margins. For more information on these
market risks and financial exposures, see the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
June 24, 2000. The Company does not hold or issue financial instruments for
trading, profit or speculative purposes.

In order to effectively convert the interest rate of a portion of the
Company's debt from a Eurodollar-based floating rate to a fixed rate, the
Company has entered into interest rate swap agreements with major
commercial banks. Although the Company is exposed to credit and market risk in
the event of future nonperformance by any of the banks, management has no

reason to believe that such an event will occur.

Upon reviewing its derivatives and other foreign currency and interest rate
instruments, based on historical foreign currency rate movements and the fair
value of market-rate sensitive instruments at year-end, the Company does not
believe that near term changes in foreign currency or interest rates will have
a material impact on its future earnings, fair values or cash flows.

<PAGE

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
- ---------------------------

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
- --------------------------
To the Company's knowledge, no material legal proceedings are pending on
the date hereof to which the Company is a party or to which any property of
the Company is subject.

Item 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
- --------------------------------------------------
Not applicable

Item 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
- ----------------------------------------
Not applicable.

Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Not applicable.

Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION
- --------------------------
Not applicable.

Item 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
- -----------------------------------------
a. Exhibits

Exhibit No. Description
---------- -----------
15 Awareness Letter of Independent Accountants
27 Financial Data Schedule
99 Independent Accountants' Review Report

b. Reports on Form 8-K.

Not applicable

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE, INC.
----------------------------------
(Registrant)

November 3, 2000 /s/Daniel M. Junius
- ----------------- --------------------
Date Daniel M. Junius
Senior Vice President-Chief
Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)