Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

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

                                      Telephone:      (503) 220-0988

                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
               ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER 2004 OPERATING RESULTS AND
                           FINANCIAL GUIDANCE FOR 4Q04

      PORTLAND,  OREGON,  OCTOBER 27,  2004 - Barrett  Business  Services,  Inc.
(Nasdaq:  BBSI)  reported  today net income of $2,448,000  for the third quarter
ended  September  30, 2004,  an  improvement  of  $1,505,000  over net income of
$943,000 for the third quarter of 2003.  Diluted earnings per share for the 2004
third  quarter was $.40,  as compared to diluted  earnings per share of $.16 for
the same quarter a year ago.

      Net revenues for the third quarter ended  September 30, 2004 totaled $54.7
million,  an increase  of  approximately  $19.9  million or 57.2% over the $34.8
million for the same quarter in 2003.



                                                   (Unaudited)              (Unaudited)
                                               Third Quarter Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                                  September 30,            September 30,
                                              --------------------    --------------------
          Results of Operations                 2004        2003        2004        2003
- -------------------------------------------   --------    --------    --------    --------
  (in thousands, except per share amounts)
Revenues:
                                                                      
  Staffing services                           $ 35,673    $ 26,727    $ 91,197    $ 69,883
  Professional employer service fees            19,006       8,046      51,796      16,189
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------
    Total revenues                              54,679      34,773     142,993      86,072
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------
Cost of revenues:
  Direct payroll costs                          26,436      19,740      67,307      51,617
  Payroll taxes and benefits                    11,376       6,181      33,556      14,371
  Workers' compensation                          6,094       2,622      15,774       6,029
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------
    Total cost of revenues                      43,906      28,543     116,637      72,017
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------
Gross margin                                    10,773       6,230      26,356      14,055
Selling, general and administrative expenses     6,404       4,461      17,637      11,926
Depreciation and amortization                      257         256         752         807
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------
Income from operations                           4,112       1,513       7,967       1,322
Other income (expense), net                         73         (62)        132        (136)
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------
Income before taxes                              4,185       1,451       8,099       1,186
Provision for income taxes                       1,737         508       3,205         419
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------
Net income                                    $  2,448    $    943    $  4,894    $    767
                                              ========    ========    ========    ========
Basic earnings per share                      $    .43     $   .17    $    .86    $    .13

                                              ========    ========    ========    ========
Weighted average basic shares outstanding        5,739       5,645       5,720       5,700
                                              ========    ========    ========    ========
Diluted earnings per share                    $    .40    $    .16    $    .80    $    .13
                                              ========    ========    ========    ========
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding      6,144       5,927       6,140       5,805
                                              ========    ========    ========    ========



      The Company  changed its reporting of PEO revenues from a gross basis to a
net basis in 2002.  The gross revenues and cost of revenues  information  below,
although  not  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles
("GAAP"),  is presented for comparison  purposes and because management believes
such information is more informative as to the

                                      -1-




Barrett Business Services, Inc.
News Release - Third Quarter 2004
October 27, 2004


level of the Company's  business  activity  and  more  useful  in  managing  its
operations.




                                             (Unaudited)               (Unaudited)
                                          Third Quarter Ended       Nine Months Ended
($ in thousands)                            September 30,              September 30,
                                         --------------------      --------------------
                                           2004        2003          2004        2003
                                         --------   ---------      --------    --------
Revenues:
                                                                   
  Staffing services                      $ 35,673    $ 26,727      $ 91,197    $ 69,883
  Professional employer services          109,435      46,886       299,139      95,767
                                         --------   ---------      --------    --------
    Total revenues                        145,108      73,613       390,336     165,650
                                         --------   ---------      --------    --------

Cost of revenues:
  Direct payroll costs                    115,580      57,977       311,337     130,592
  Payroll taxes and benefits               11,376       6,181        33,555      14,371
  Workers' compensation                     7,379       3,225        19,088       6,632
                                         --------   ---------      --------    --------
    Total cost of revenues                134,335      67,383       363,980     151,595
                                         --------   ---------      --------    --------
Gross margin                             $ 10,773    $  6,230      $ 26,356    $ 14,055
                                         ========   =========      ========    ========



      A reconciliation of non-GAAP gross revenues to net revenues is as follows:

For the third quarters ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands):




                         Gross Revenue                                        Net Revenue
                        Reporting Method         Reclassification          Reporting Method
                     ---------------------     ---------------------    ----------------------
                       2004         2003         2004         2003        2004          2003
                     --------     --------     --------     --------    --------      --------
Revenues:
                                                                    
  Staffing services  $ 35,673     $ 26,727     $      -     $      -    $ 35,673      $ 26,727
  Professional
   employer services  109,435       46,886      (90,429)     (38,840)     19,006         8,046
                     --------     --------     --------     --------    --------      --------
    Total revenues   $145,108     $ 73,613     $(90,429)    $(38,840)   $ 54,679      $ 34,773
                     ========     ========     ========     ========    ========      ========

Cost of revenues:    $134,335     $ 67,383     $(90,429)    $(38,840)   $ 43,906      $ 28,543
                     ========     ========     ========     ========    ========      ========


For the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands):

                         Gross Revenue                                        Net Revenue
                        Reporting Method         Reclassification           Reporting Method
                     ---------------------     ---------------------    ----------------------
                       2004         2003         2004         2003         2004         2003
                     --------     --------     ---------    --------    --------      --------
Revenues:
  Staffing services  $ 91,197     $ 69,883     $       -    $      -    $ 91,197      $ 69,883
  Professional
   employer services  299,139       95,767      (247,343)    (79,578)     51,796        16,189
                     --------     --------     ---------    --------    --------      --------
    Total revenues   $390,336     $165,650     $(247,343)   $(79,578)   $142,993      $ 86,072
                     ========     ========     =========    ========    ========      ========

Cost of revenues:    $363,980     $151,595     $(247,343)   $(79,578)   $116,637      $ 72,017
                     ========     ========     =========    ========    ========      ========



                                      -2-





      William W. Sherertz, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented
that: "We are very pleased with the continued momentum of our earnings and
revenue growth, as well as the strengthening of our balance sheet. Our third
quarter represents the eighth consecutive quarter in which our operating results
improved over the comparable period."

      The following summarizes the unaudited consolidated balance sheets at
September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003.





($ in thousands)                                              September 30,   December 31,
                                                                 2004            2003
                                                                -------         ------
                          Assets
Current assets:
                                                                         
  Cash and cash equivalents                                     $10,009        $ 7,785
  Marketable securities                                           4,503              -
  Trade accounts receivable, net                                 30,523         18,481
  Prepaid expenses and other                                      1,243            958
  Deferred income taxes                                           5,168          2,196
                                                                -------        -------
     Total current assets                                        51,446         29,420
Goodwill, net                                                    21,738         18,749
Intangibles, net                                                     30             13
Property, equipment and software, net                             4,439          3,367
Restricted marketable securities and workers'
  compensation deposits                                           1,775          1,647
Deferred income taxes                                               758          1,041
Other assets                                                        399            436
                                                                -------        -------
                                                                $80,585        $54,673
                                                                =======        =======

           Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Current liabilities:
  Current portion of long-term debt                             $   348        $    88
  Income taxes payable                                            2,685              -
  Accounts payable                                                  430            727
  Accrued payroll, payroll taxes and related benefits            23,829         13,881
  Workers' compensation claims liabilities                        4,977          3,886
  Safety incentives liabilities                                   4,534          2,007
  Other accrued liabilities                                         606            361
                                                                -------        -------
    Total current liabilities                                    37,409         20,950
Long-term debt, net of current portion                            1,478            400
Customer deposits                                                   501            455
Long-term workers' compensation claims liabilities                4,576          1,031
Other long-term liabilities                                           -             45
Deferred gain on sale and leaseback                               1,067          1,158
Stockholders' equity                                             35,554         30,634
                                                                -------        -------
                                                                $80,585        $54,673
                                                                =======        =======



                                      -3-





Outlook for Fourth Quarter 2004

      The Company also disclosed today limited  financial  guidance with respect
to its operating  results for the fourth quarter  ending  December 31, 2004. The
Company expects gross revenues for the fourth quarter to range from $144 million
to $146 million and anticipates diluted earnings per share to range from $.35 to
$.38 per share for the same period. A reconciliation of estimated gross revenues
to estimated  GAAP net  revenues for the fourth  quarter of 2004 is not included
because PEO revenues and cost of PEO revenues for the period are not  reasonably
estimable.

      On October 28, 2004 at 9:00 a.m.  Pacific  Time,  William W.  Sherertz and
Michael D. Mulholland will host an investor telephone conference call to discuss
third  quarter  2004  operating  results.  To  participate  in  the  call,  dial
(877)356-3717.  The call identification  number is 1430173.  The conference call
will also be webcast  live at  www.barrettbusiness.com.  To access the  webcast,
click on the Investor  Relations  section of the Web site and select Webcast.  A
replay of the call will be  available  beginning  October 28, 2004 at 11:00 a.m.
and ending November 4, 2004. To listen to the recording,  dial (800)642-1687 and
enter conference identification code 1430173.

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

      Statements in this release about future events or  performance,  including
earnings  expectations  for the  fourth  quarter  of 2004,  are  forward-looking
statements,  which  involve  known and unknown  risks,  uncertainties  and other
factors  that may cause the  actual  results  of the  Company  to be  materially
different from any future results  expressed or implied by such  forward-looking
statements. Factors that could affect future results include economic conditions
in the Company's  service  areas,  the effect of changes in the Company's mix of
services on gross margin,  future workers'  compensation claims experience,  the
effect of changes in the workers' compensation  regulatory environment in one or
more  of  our  primary  markets,  collectibility  of  accounts  receivable,  and
availability  of funding for  working  capital  purposes,  among  others.  Other
important  factors that may affect the Company's  future prospects are described
in the  Company's  2003  Annual  Report on Form 10-K.  Although  forward-looking
statements  help to provide  complete  information  about the  Company,  readers
should keep in mind that  forward-looking  statements  may be less reliable than
historical information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise
forward-looking  statements  in this  release  to  reflect  events or changes in
circumstances that occur after the date of this release.

                                      #####


                                      -4-