NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                  Contact:         William W. Sherertz
                                                        President and
                                                        Chief Executive Officer

                                     Telephone:         (503) 220-0988


                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                              ANNOUNCES STEP UP TO
                            NASDAQ'S NATIONAL MARKET

     PORTLAND,  OREGON, July 15, 2004 - Barrett Business Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:
BBSI) has received approval from The Nasdaq Stock Market for its common stock to
be traded on the  National  Market  rather than the SmallCap  Market,  where the
stock has traded since June 20, 2001. The step up to the National Market will be
effective  as of the open of regular  trading on Monday,  July 19,  2004 and the
Company's shares will continue to trade under the symbol BBSI.

     BBSI  provides  human  resource  management  solutions  to large  and small
companies throughout many regions of the United States.

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