-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000892917-10-000060.txt : 20100305
<SEC-HEADER>0000892917-10-000060.hdr.sgml : 20100305
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100305213221
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000892917-10-000060
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100304
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100305
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100305

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000902791
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HELP SUPPLY SERVICES [7363]
		IRS NUMBER:				520812977
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8100 NE PARKWAY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			VANCOUVER
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98662
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(800) 494-5669

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8100 NE PARKWAY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			VANCOUVER
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98662

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MILLER JAMES D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001257913

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21886
		FILM NUMBER:		10662189

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8100 NE PARKWAY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			VANCOUVER
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98662
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bbsi4miller100305.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000902791</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BBSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001257913</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MILLER JAMES D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8100 NE PARKWAY DRIVE, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VANCOUVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98662</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP-Finance, Treas &amp; Secretary</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.38</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-03-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-03-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Becomes exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning March 4, 2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit List - Exhibit 24, Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James D. Miller</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>poa-jamesmiller.txt
<TEXT>


                                                                      Exhibit 24



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



                    Know all by these present, that the undersigned hereby

constitutes and appoints each of James D. Miller, Gregory R. Vaughn, and Brooks

DiStefano signing singly, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:



                    1. Execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the

undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director of Barrett Business

Services, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with Section

16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder, and any

other forms or reports the undersigned may be required to file in connection

with the undersigned's ownership, acquisition, or disposition of securities of

the Company; and



                    2. Do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the

undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any

such Form 3, 4, or 5, or other form or report, and timely file such form or

report with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock

exchange or similar authority as appropriate.



                    The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact

full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing

necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers

herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned could

do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such

attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power

of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned

acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity

at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, and the Company is not

assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



                    This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and

effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5

with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities

issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed

writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.



                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power

of Attorney to be executed as of this 13th day of May, 2009.







                                   /s/ James D. Miller

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

                                   Signature



                                   James D. Miller

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

                                   Print Name



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
