
<PAGE>   1

                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Board of Directors
Century Business Services, Inc.:

We consent to the use of our reports incorporated herein by reference in
Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 and to the reference
to our firm under the heading "Experts" in such Amendment No. 3 to the
Registration Statement.


                                         /s/ KPMG LLP



Cleveland, Ohio
December 29, 1999
