<PAGE>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on August 17, 1994.                       Registration No. 33-    



                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 20549


                                  FORM S-8

                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                         THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



                       BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Maryland                              52-0812977
     (State of incorporation)           (IRS Employer Identification No.)

     4724 S.W. Macadam Avenue
     Portland, Oregon                                  97201
(Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)


         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC., 1993 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                          (Full title of the plan)


William W. Sherertz
President
Barrett Business Services, Inc.
4724 S.W. Macadam Avenue
Portland, Oregon  97201
Telephone (503) 220-0988
(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)


                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=============================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      Proposed Maximum   Proposed Maximum
Title of Securities    Amount to be    Offering Price       Aggregate          Amount of
  to be Registered      Registered       Per Share        Offering Price    Registration Fee
____________________________________________________________________________________________
<S>                    <C>                   <C>           <C>                <C>
   Common Stock,       300,000 shares        (1)           $3,300,000(1)      $1,137.94(1)
$.01 par value, and
 options and other
  rights related
     thereto

============================================================================================

(1)  Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the proposed maximum aggregate offering price and the
     registration fee have been computed based upon the average of the high and low sales
     prices of the Common Stock reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers,
     Inc., through NASDAQ, on August 12, 1994, $11.00.

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                   PART II

             INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The following documents filed by the registrant with the Securities and
Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference in this registration
statement:

     (a)  The registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
  December 31, 1993.

     (b)  The registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
  ended March 31, 1994, and June 30, 1994.

     (c)  The description of the registrant's Common Stock included as
  Exhibit 99 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
  quarter ended June 30, 1994.

     All documents filed by the registrant subsequent to those listed above
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all
securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

     Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

     Not applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     Indemnification

     Section 2-312 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the "Act")
provides that any director held liable for an unlawful distribution in
violation of Section 2-311 of the Act or the corporation's charter is
entitled to contribution from (i) every other director who could be held
liable under Section 2-312 of the Act for the unlawful distribution and (ii)
each stockholder for the amount the stockholder accepted knowing the
distribution was made in violation of Section 2-311 of the Act or the
corporation's charter.

     Under Section 2-418 of the Act, a person who is made a party to a
proceeding because such person is or was an officer or director of a
corporation (an "Indemnitee") shall be indemnified by the corporation (unless
the corporation's charter provides otherwise) against reasonable expenses
incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the proceeding if the
Indemnitee is successful on the merits or otherwise or if ordered by a court
of competent jurisdiction.  In addition, under said section a corporation is
permitted to indemnify an Indemnitee against liability incurred in a
proceeding unless (i) the Indemnitee's act or omission was material to the
matter giving rise to the proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or
(b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (ii) the Indemnitee
actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property, or
services; (iii) in the case of a criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had
reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful; (iv) the
Indemnitee was adjudged liable to the corporation in a proceeding by or in
the right of the corporation; or (v) the Indemnitee was adjudged liable on
the basis that he or she improperly received a personal benefit.

     As authorized by the Act, Article V of the registrant's Articles of
Amendment and Restatement (the "Charter") provides that the registrant shall
indemnify each of its officers and directors to the fullest extent
permissible under the Act, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended,
against all liabilities, losses, judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and
reasonable expenses (including attorney fees) incurred or suffered by such
person by reason of or arising from the fact that such person is or was an
officer or director of the registrant or is or was serving at the request of
the registrant as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of
another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise.  Such indemnification continues as
to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, partner, trustee,
employee or agent and inures to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors,
and administrators.

     The registrant has entered into an indemnification agreement with each
of its directors.  Each such agreement provides that the registrant will
indemnify the director to the full extent authorized or permitted by the Act
or any other applicable statute or the registrant's Charter or Bylaws or any
amendment thereof against any obligation to pay a judgment, settlement,
penalty, fine or reasonable expenses, including attorney fees (any of the
foregoing, a "Liability") incurred in connection with any claim (as defined
therein), including a claim by or in the right of the registrant; provided
that no indemnity shall be paid by the registrant (i) if a final decision by
a court having jurisdiction shall determine that such indemnification is
unlawful, (ii) on account of acts or omissions by the director which are
finally adjudged to have been not in good faith or to have involved
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, or (iii) on account of
Liability under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any
similar provision of federal or state statutory law.

     Insurance

     The registrant maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance
under which the registrant's directors and officers are insured against loss
(as defined) as a result of claims brought against them based upon their acts
or omissions in such capacities, including civil liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

     Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

     The Index to Exhibits listing the exhibits required by Item 601 of
Regulation S-K is located at page II-4.

Item 9.  Undertakings.

     (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

               (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section
          10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities
          Act");

               (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
          events arising after the effective date of the
          registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
          amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
          aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
          information set forth in the registration statement;

               (iii)  To include any material information with
          respect to the plan of distribution not previously
          disclosed in the registration statement or any material
          change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if
the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
("Exchange Act") that are incorporated by reference in the registration
statement.

          (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
     a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
     and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
     the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
     amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
     the termination of the offering.

     (b)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual
report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.

     (h)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6
above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of
the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. 
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,
officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.  The undertaking of the registrant
in the preceding sentence does not apply to insurance against liability
arising under the Securities Act.<PAGE>
                                 SIGNATURES

The Registrant.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Portland, state of Oregon, on the
16th day of August, 1994.

                                        BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                                        (Registrant)


                                        By  /s/ WILLIAM W. SHERERTZ
                                            William W. Sherertz
                                             President

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated as of the 16th day of August, 1994.

               Signature                          Title
               ---------                          -----

     (1)  Principal Executive and Principal
          Financial Officer and Director

          /s/ WILLIAM W. SHERERTZ            President and Director
          William W. Sherertz

     (2)  Principal Accounting Officer:

          /s/ JAMES D. MILLER                Controller
          James D. Miller

     (3)  A majority of the Board
          of Directors:

       ROBERT R. AMES*                       Director
     JEFFREY L. BEAUDOIN*                    Director
       ANTHONY MEEKER*                       Director
     STANLEY G. RENECKER*                    Director
     JACK D. WILLIAMSON, JR.*                Director


     *By   /s/ WILLIAM W. SHERERTZ
           William W. Sherertz
              Attorney-in-fact
<PAGE>
                              INDEX TO EXHIBITS




4.1       Articles III, VI, VII and VIII of the Charter of the registrant, as
          amended.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the
          registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
          June 30, 1994.

4.2       Article I, Article II, Sections 2 and 10, Article VI and Article
          VII of the Bylaws of the registrant.  Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 3.2 to the registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1
          (Registration No. 33-61804).

5         Opinion of Miller, Nash, Wiener, Hager & Carlsen as to the legality
          of the securities being registered.

23.1      Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants.

23.2      Consent of Frank, Rimerman & Co., independent accountants.

23.3      Consent of Miller, Nash, Wiener, Hager & Carlsen (included in
          Exhibit 5).

24        Power of attorney of certain officers and directors.

- ------------
     Other exhibits listed in Item 601 to Regulation S-K are not applicable.
<PAGE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "REGISTRATION STATEMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14851}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC", "cik": "0000902791", "assigned-sic": "7363", "irs-number": "520812977", "state-of-incorporation": "MD", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "033-55117", "film-number": "94544814"}, "business-address": {"street1": "4724 S W MACADAM AVE", "city": "PORTLAND", "state": "OR", "zip": "97201", "phone": "5032200988"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on August 17, 1994.                       Registration No. 33-    

                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  FORM S-8

                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                         THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                       BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Maryland                              52-0812977
     (State of incorporation)           (IRS Employer Identification No.)

     4724 S.W. Macadam Avenue
     Portland, Oregon                                  97201
(Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)

         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC., 1993 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                          (Full title of the plan)

William W. Sherertz
President
Barrett Business Services, Inc.
4724 S.W. Macadam Avenue
Portland, Oregon  97201
Telephone (503) 220-0988
(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)

                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=============================================================================
Proposed Maximum   Proposed Maximum
Title of Securities    Amount to be    Offering Price       Aggregate          Amount of
  to be Registered      Registered       Per Share        Offering Price    Registration Fee
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Common Stock,       300,000 shares        (1)           $3,300,000(1)      $1,137.94(1)
$.01 par value, and
 options and other
  rights related
     thereto

============================================================================================

(1)  Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the proposed maximum aggregate offering price and the
     registration fee have been computed based upon the average of the high and low sales
     prices of the Common Stock reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers,
     Inc., through NASDAQ, on August 12, 1994, $11.00.
PART II

             INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The following documents filed by the registrant with the Securities and
Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference in this registration
statement:

     (a)  The registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
  December 31, 1993.

     (b)  The registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
  ended March 31, 1994, and June 30, 1994.

     (c)  The description of the registrant's Common Stock included as
  Exhibit 99 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
  quarter ended June 30, 1994.

     All documents filed by the registrant subsequent to those listed above
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all
securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

     Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

     Not applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     Indemnification

     Section 2-312 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the "Act")
provides that any director held liable for an unlawful distribution in
violation of Section 2-311 of the Act or the corporation's charter is
entitled to contribution from (i) every other director who could be held
liable under Section 2-312 of the Act for the unlawful distribution and (ii)
each stockholder for the amount the stockholder accepted knowing the
distribution was made in violation of Section 2-311 of the Act or the
corporation's charter.

     Under Section 2-418 of the Act, a person who is made a party to a
proceeding because such person is or was an officer or director of a
corporation (an "Indemnitee") shall be indemnified by the corporation (unless
the corporation's charter provides otherwise) against reasonable expenses
incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the proceeding if the
Indemnitee is successful on the merits or otherwise or if ordered by a court
of competent jurisdiction.  In addition, under said section a corporation is
permitted to indemnify an Indemnitee against liability incurred in a
proceeding unless (i) the Indemnitee's act or omission was material to the
matter giving rise to the proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or
(b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (ii) the Indemnitee
actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property, or
services; (iii) in the case of a criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had
reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful; (iv) the
Indemnitee was adjudged liable to the corporation in a proceeding by or in
the right of the corporation; or (v) the Indemnitee was adjudged liable on
the basis that he or she improperly received a personal benefit.

     As authorized by the Act, Article V of the registrant's Articles of
Amendment and Restatement (the "Charter") provides that the registrant shall
indemnify each of its officers and directors to the fullest extent
permissible under the Act, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended,
against all liabilities, losses, judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and
reasonable expenses (including attorney fees) incurred or suffered by such
person by reason of or arising from the fact that such person is or was an
officer or director of the registrant or is or was serving at the request of
the registrant as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of
another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise.  Such indemnification continues as
to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, partner, trustee,
employee or agent and inures to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors,
and administrators.

     The registrant has entered into an indemnification agreement with each
of its directors.  Each such agreement provides that the registrant will
indemnify the director to the full extent authorized or permitted by the Act
or any other applicable statute or the registrant's Charter or Bylaws or any
amendment thereof against any obligation to pay a judgment, settlement,
penalty, fine or reasonable expenses, including attorney fees (any of the
foregoing, a "Liability") incurred in connection with any claim (as defined
therein), including a claim by or in the right of the registrant; provided
that no indemnity shall be paid by the registrant (i) if a final decision by
a court having jurisdiction shall determine that such indemnification is
unlawful, (ii) on account of acts or omissions by the director which are
finally adjudged to have been not in good faith or to have involved
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, or (iii) on account of
Liability under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any
similar provision of federal or state statutory law.

     Insurance

     The registrant maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance
under which the registrant's directors and officers are insured against loss
(as defined) as a result of claims brought against them based upon their acts
or omissions in such capacities, including civil liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

     Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

     The Index to Exhibits listing the exhibits required by Item 601 of
Regulation S-K is located at page II-4.

Item 9.  Undertakings.

     (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

               (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section
          10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities
          Act");

               (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
          events arising after the effective date of the
          registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
          amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
          aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
          information set forth in the registration statement;

               (iii)  To include any material information with
          respect to the plan of distribution not previously
          disclosed in the registration statement or any material
          change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if
the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
("Exchange Act") that are incorporated by reference in the registration
statement.

          (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
     a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
     and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
     the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
     amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
     the termination of the offering.

     (b)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual
report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.

     (h)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6
above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of
the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. 
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,
officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.  The undertaking of the registrant
in the preceding sentence does not apply to insurance against liability
arising under the Securities Act.
SIGNATURES

The Registrant.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Portland, state of Oregon, on the
16th day of August, 1994.

                                        BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                                        (Registrant)

                                        By  /s/ WILLIAM W. SHERERTZ
                                            William W. Sherertz
                                             President

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated as of the 16th day of August, 1994.

               Signature                          Title
               ---------                          -----

     (1)  Principal Executive and Principal
          Financial Officer and Director

          /s/ WILLIAM W. SHERERTZ            President and Director
          William W. Sherertz

     (2)  Principal Accounting Officer:

          /s/ JAMES D. MILLER                Controller
          James D. Miller

     (3)  A majority of the Board
          of Directors:

       ROBERT R. AMES*                       Director
     JEFFREY L. BEAUDOIN*                    Director
       ANTHONY MEEKER*                       Director
     STANLEY G. RENECKER*                    Director
     JACK D. WILLIAMSON, JR.*                Director

     *By   /s/ WILLIAM W. SHERERTZ
           William W. Sherertz
              Attorney-in-fact
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

4.1       Articles III, VI, VII and VIII of the Charter of the registrant, as
          amended.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the
          registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
          June 30, 1994.

4.2       Article I, Article II, Sections 2 and 10, Article VI and Article
          VII of the Bylaws of the registrant.  Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 3.2 to the registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1
          (Registration No. 33-61804).

5         Opinion of Miller, Nash, Wiener, Hager & Carlsen as to the legality
          of the securities being registered.

23.1      Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants.

23.2      Consent of Frank, Rimerman & Co., independent accountants.

23.3      Consent of Miller, Nash, Wiener, Hager & Carlsen (included in
          Exhibit 5).

24        Power of attorney of certain officers and directors.

- ------------
     Other exhibits listed in Item 601 to Regulation S-K are not applicable.