<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001144204-18-002081.txt : 20180226
<SEC-HEADER>0001144204-18-002081.hdr.sgml : 20180226
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180112153236
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001144204-18-002081
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180112

FILER:

	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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">[BBSI Letterhead]</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">January 12, 2018</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>VIA EDGAR</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Mr. Larry Spirgel</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Assistant Director</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Office of Telecommunications</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission<BR>
Division of Corporation Finance<BR>
100 F Street, N.E.<BR>
Washington, D.C. 20549</P>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; width: 100%"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 1in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in; text-align: left"><B>Re:</B></TD><TD><B>Barrett Business Services, Inc.</B><BR>
<B>Form 10-K for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016</B><BR>
<B>Filed March 15, 2017</B><BR>
<B>File No. 000-21886</B></TD>
</TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Dear Mr. Spirgel:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">This letter responds to the request by the staff (the &ldquo;Staff&rdquo;)
of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &ldquo;Commission&rdquo;) during our telephone conversation on December 14, 2017,
with respect to the prior letter submitted by Barrett Business Services, Inc. (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;, &ldquo;BBSI&rdquo; or
&ldquo;we&rdquo;) dated December 1, 2017. For the Staff&rsquo;s convenience, the substance of the oral comment is repeated below, followed
by our response.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><U>Comment</U></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in">1.</TD><TD>Please revise the labeling and presentation of &ldquo;gross revenues&rdquo; and &ldquo;gross cost of revenues&rdquo; disclosures
so as not to be confusingly similar to GAAP terminology and presentation.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><U>Response</U></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">The Company intends to revise the labeling of what was previously
shown as gross revenue to &ldquo;gross billings.&rdquo; We will also remove the tabular presentation of gross cost of revenues
and will instead include a new non-GAAP disclosure related to &ldquo;gross workers&rsquo; compensation&rdquo; as well as additional
performance metrics related to employee wages and selected ratios that are used by management and are currently discussed on our
earnings calls. These new disclosures will continue to assist investors in evaluating the volume and efficiency of our operations
and the total costs and performance of our workers&rsquo; compensation program without including a presentation that is similar
to GAAP gross margin.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Consistent with our discussion of a possible transition period
for these changes, we respectfully request using the fourth quarter earnings release and conference call to communicate these changes
to our investors. We will then implement the new disclosures effective with the filing of our December 31, 2017 Form 10-K.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Below is an example of our
revised disclosure to be included beginning with our December 31, 2017 Form 10-K (the example is derived from our Form 10-Q for
the period ended September 30, 2017).</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<!-- Field: Rule-Page --><DIV ALIGN="CENTER" STYLE="margin-top: 3pt; margin-bottom: 3pt"><DIV STYLE="font-size: 1pt; border-top: Black 1pt solid; width: 100%">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><!-- Field: /Rule-Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">We report PEO revenues net of direct payroll costs because we
are not the primary obligor for the performance of our clients&rsquo; employees. However, management believes that gross billing
amounts and wages are useful in understanding the volume of our business activity and serve as an important performance metric
in managing our operations, including the preparation of internal operating forecasts and establishing executive compensation performance
goals. We therefore present for purposes of analysis gross billing and wage information for the three and nine months ended September&nbsp;30,
2017.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="6" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">Three Months Ended<BR>
September 30,</TD><TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="6" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">Nine Months Ended<BR>
September 30,</TD><TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">(in thousands)</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2017</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2016</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2017</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2016</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: rgb(204,238,255)">
    <TD STYLE="width: 44%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">Gross billings</TD><TD STYLE="width: 2%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">$</TD><TD STYLE="width: 10%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">1,371,212</TD><TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="width: 2%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">$</TD><TD STYLE="width: 10%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">1,232,033</TD><TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="width: 2%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">$</TD><TD STYLE="width: 10%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">3,869,299</TD><TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="width: 2%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">$</TD><TD STYLE="width: 10%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">3,436,447</TD><TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: White">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">PEO and staffing wages</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">1,154,012</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">1,036,769</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">3,258,993</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">2,889,278</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Because safety incentives represent consideration payable to
PEO customers, safety incentive costs are netted against PEO revenue in our consolidated statements of operations. Management considers
safety incentives to be an integral part of our workers&rsquo; compensation program because they encourage client companies to
maintain safe-work practices and minimize workplace injuries. We therefore present below for purposes of analysis non-GAAP gross
workers&rsquo; compensation expense, which represents workers&rsquo; compensation costs including safety incentive costs. We believe
this non-GAAP measure is useful in evaluating the total costs of our workers&rsquo; compensation program.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="6" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">Three Months Ended<BR>
September 30,</TD><TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="6" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">Nine Months Ended<BR>
September 30,</TD><TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">(in thousands)</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2017</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2016</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2017</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2016</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: rgb(204,238,255)">
    <TD STYLE="width: 44%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">Workers&rsquo; compensation</TD><TD STYLE="width: 2%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">$</TD><TD STYLE="width: 10%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">58,310</TD><TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="width: 2%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">$</TD><TD STYLE="width: 10%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">55,639</TD><TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="width: 2%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">$</TD><TD STYLE="width: 10%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">172,675</TD><TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="width: 2%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">$</TD><TD STYLE="width: 10%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">155,089</TD><TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: White">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 1pt">Safety incentive costs</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">9,051</TD><TD STYLE="padding-bottom: 1pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">7,178</TD><TD STYLE="padding-bottom: 1pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">23,782</TD><TD STYLE="padding-bottom: 1pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">20,348</TD><TD STYLE="padding-bottom: 1pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: rgb(204,238,255)">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 1pt">Non-GAAP gross workers&rsquo; compensation</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">$</TD><TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">67,361</TD><TD STYLE="padding-bottom: 1pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">$</TD><TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">62,817</TD><TD STYLE="padding-bottom: 1pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">$</TD><TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">196,457</TD><TD STYLE="padding-bottom: 1pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">$</TD><TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">175,437</TD><TD STYLE="padding-bottom: 1pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">In monitoring and evaluating the performance of our operations,
management also reviews the following ratios, which represent selected amounts as a percentage of gross billings. Management believes
these ratios are useful in understanding the efficiency and profitability of our service offerings.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="14" STYLE="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">Percentage of Gross Billings</TD><TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="6" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">Three Months Ended<BR>
September 30,</TD><TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="6" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">Nine Months Ended<BR>
September 30,</TD><TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">(in thousands)</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2017</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2016</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2017</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">2016</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: rgb(204,238,255)">
    <TD STYLE="width: 44%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">PEO and staffing wages</TD><TD STYLE="width: 2%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="width: 10%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">84.2</TD><TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">%</TD><TD STYLE="width: 2%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="width: 10%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">84.2</TD><TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">%</TD><TD STYLE="width: 2%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="width: 10%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">84.2</TD><TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">%</TD><TD STYLE="width: 2%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="width: 10%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">84.1</TD><TD STYLE="width: 1%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">%</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: White">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">Payroll taxes and benefits</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">6.9</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">%</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">6.7</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">%</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">7.9</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">%</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">7.8</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">%</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: rgb(204,238,255)">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">Non-GAAP gross workers&rsquo; compensation</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">4.9</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">%</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">5.1</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">%</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">5.1</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">%</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right">5.1</TD><TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left">%</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">We appreciate the Staff&rsquo;s review and consideration of
the Company&rsquo;s response. If you have any questions or comments regarding our response, please contact me by telephone at (360)
869-4012 or by facsimile at (360) 828-0705.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Sincerely,</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">/s/ Gary Kramer</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Gary Kramer<BR>
Chief Financial Officer</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">8100 NE Parkway Drive, Suite 200 Vancouver,
WA 98662 360.828.0700</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center">www.barrettbusiness.com</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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