BBSI Announces Third Quarter 2007 Operating Results, Financial Guidance for 4Q07 and Conference Call

VANCOUVER, Wash., Oct. 24, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Barrett Business Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:BBSI) reported today net income of $6.3 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2007, an improvement of $720,000 or 12.9% over net income of $5.6 million for the third quarter of 2006. Diluted earnings per share for the 2007 third quarter were $.54, as compared to diluted earnings per share of $.48 for the same quarter a year ago.

Net revenues for the third quarter ended September 30, 2007 totaled $82.9 million, an increase of approximately $13.5 million or 19.5% over the $69.4 million for the same quarter in 2006.



 ($ in thousands, except        (Unaudited)           (Unaudited)
  per share amounts)         Third Quarter Ended    Nine Months Ended
                                September 30,         September 30,
                             -------------------   -------------------
   Results of Operations       2007       2006       2007       2006
 --------------------------  --------   --------   --------   --------
 Revenues:
  Staffing services          $ 43,911   $ 33,506   $101,673   $ 90,734
  Professional employer
   service fees                38,997     35,917    105,709    101,629
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
   Total revenues              82,908     69,423    207,382    192,363
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Cost of revenues:
  Direct payroll costs         35,642     25,145     79,200     67,827
  Payroll taxes and benefits   21,835     20,403     66,288     63,677
  Workers' compensation         6,633      7,207     18,441     20,959
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
   Total cost of revenues      64,110     52,755    163,929    152,463
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Gross margin                  18,798     16,668     43,453     39,900
 Selling, general and
  administrative expenses       9,530      8,362     24,645     23,464
 Depreciation and
  amortization                    350        335      1,015        965
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Income from operations         8,918      7,971     17,793     15,471
 Other income, net                776        733      2,351      2,035
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Income before taxes            9,694      8,704     20,144     17,506
 Provision for income taxes     3,412      3,142      7,253      6,399
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Net income                  $  6,282   $  5,562   $ 12,891   $ 11,107
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Basic earnings per share    $    .56   $    .49   $   1.14   $    .99
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Weighted average basic
  shares outstanding           11,276     11,247     11,265     11,176
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Diluted earnings per share  $    .54   $    .48   $   1.10   $    .95
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Weighted average diluted
  shares outstanding           11,691     11,659     11,687     11,668
                             --------   --------   --------   --------

The Company reports its Professional Employer Organization services ("PEO") revenues on a net basis because it is not the primary obligor for the services provided by the Company's PEO clients to their customers. 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 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,
                           -------------------   -------------------
                             2007       2006       2007       2006
                           --------   --------   --------   --------
 Revenues:
  Staffing services        $ 43,911   $ 33,506   $101,673   $ 90,734
  Professional employer
   services                 252,855    240,314    720,325    675,833
                           --------   --------   --------   --------
   Total revenues           296,766    273,820    821,998    766,567
                           --------   --------   --------   ---------
 Cost of revenues:
  Direct payroll costs      247,934    228,643    689,167    638,855
  Payroll taxes and
   benefits                  21,835     20,403     66,288     63,677
  Workers' compensation       8,199      8,106     23,090     24,135
                           --------   --------   --------   --------
   Total cost of revenues   277,968    257,152    778,545    726,667
                           --------   --------   --------   --------
 Gross margin              $ 18,798   $ 16,668   $ 43,453   $ 39,900
                           --------   --------   --------   --------

Gross revenues of $296.8 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2007 rose 8.4% over the similar period in 2006. For the first nine months of 2007, gross revenues of $822.0 million increased 7.2% over the comparable 2006 period.

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

For the third quarters ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:



                             (Unaudited)
                     Three Months Ended September 30,
             ---------------------------------------------------------
 (in           Gross Revenue                            Net Revenue
  thousands)  Reporting Method   Reclassification     Reporting Method
             ----------------- --------------------  -----------------
               2007     2006     2007       2006       2007     2006
             -------- -------- ---------  ---------  -------- --------

 Revenues:
  Staffing
   services  $ 43,911 $ 33,506 $      --  $      --  $ 43,911 $ 33,506
  Professional
   employer
   services   252,855  240,314  (213,858)  (204,397)   38,997   35,917
             -------- -------- ---------  ---------  -------- --------
   Total
    revenues $296,766 $273,820 $(213,858) $(204,397) $ 82,908 $ 69,423
             -------- -------- ---------  ---------  -------- --------
 Cost of
  revenues   $277,968 $257,152 $(213,858) $(204,397) $ 64,110 $ 52,755
             -------- -------- ---------  ---------  -------- --------

For the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:



                              (Unaudited)
                     Nine Months Ended September 30,
             ---------------------------------------------------------
 (in           Gross Revenue                            Net Revenue
  thousands)  Reporting Method   Reclassification     Reporting Method
             ----------------- --------------------  -----------------
               2007     2006     2007       2006       2007     2006
             -------- -------- ---------  ---------  -------- --------
 Revenues:
  Staffing
   services  $101,673 $ 90,734 $      --  $      --  $101,673 $ 90,734
  Professional
   employer
   services   720,325  675,833  (614,616)  (574,204)  105,709  101,629
             -------- -------- ---------  ---------  -------- --------
   Total
    revenues $821,998 $766,567 $(614,616) $(574,204) $207,382 $192,363
             -------- -------- ---------  ---------  -------- --------
 Cost of
  revenues   $778,545 $726,667 $(614,616) $(574,204) $163,929 $152,463
             -------- -------- ---------  ---------  -------- --------

William W. Sherertz, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: "Our third quarter operating results represent record-level performance in terms of both revenues and earnings."

The following summarizes the unaudited consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006.



                                            September 30, December 31,
 (in thousands)                                 2007          2006
                                              --------      --------
                  Assets
                  ------
 Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                   $ 57,638      $ 69,874
  Marketable securities                          2,591         3,159
  Trade accounts receivable, net                45,339        31,328
  Prepaid expenses and other                     1,903         1,940
  Deferred income taxes                          4,251         4,699
  Workers' compensation receivables for
   insured claims                                  225           225
                                              --------      --------
   Total current assets                        111,947       111,225
 Marketable securities                             414           406
 Goodwill, net                                  39,859        27,536
 Intangibles, net                                  111            75
 Property, equipment and software, net          16,039        13,502
 Restricted marketable securities and workers'
   compensation deposits                         3,096         2,616
 Other assets                                    1,506         2,143
 Workers' compensation receivables for
  insured claims                                 4,270         4,678
                                              --------      --------
                                              $177,242      $162,181
                                              --------      --------

     Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
     ------------------------------------
 Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                            $    968      $  1,545
  Accrued payroll, payroll taxes and related
   benefits                                     38,262        33,372
  Income taxes payable                             890            --
  Other accrued liabilities                      1,037           516
  Workers' compensation claims liabilities       3,690         3,843
  Workers' compensation claims liabilities for
   insured claims                                  225           225
  Safety incentives liabilities                  8,065         7,519
                                              --------      --------
   Total current liabilities                    53,137        47,020
 Customer deposits                                 711           817
 Long-term workers' compensation claims
   liabilities                                   3,020         5,295
 Long-term workers' compensation liabilities
   for insured claims                            2,906         3,011
 Deferred income taxes                           2,965         1,545
 Deferred gain on sale and leaseback               701           793
 Stockholders' equity                          113,802       103,700
                                              --------      --------
                                              $177,242      $162,181
                                              --------      --------

Outlook for Fourth Quarter 2007

The Company also disclosed today limited financial guidance with respect to its operating results for the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2007. The Company expects gross revenues for the fourth quarter of 2007 to range from $285 million to $290 million, as compared to $274 million for the fourth quarter of 2006, and anticipates diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2007 to range from $.45 to $.48 per share, as compared to $.45 per share for the same period a year ago. A reconciliation of estimated gross revenues to estimated GAAP net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2007 is not included because PEO revenues and cost of PEO revenues for the period are not reasonably estimable.

Conference Call

On October 25 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 2007 operating results. To participate in the call, dial (877) 356-3717. The call identification number is 21000117. 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 Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 12:00 p.m. PT and ending on November 1, 2007. To listen to the recording, dial (800) 642-1687 and enter conference identification code 21000117.

Statements in this release about future events or performance, including earnings expectations for the fourth quarter of 2007, 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, the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses with its existing operations, future workers' compensation claims experience, the effect of changes in the workers' compensation regulatory environment in one or more of its primary markets and the collectibility of accounts receivable, among others. Other important factors that may affect the Company's future prospects are described in the Company's 2006 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.

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

CONTACT:  Barrett Business Services, Inc.
          William W. Sherertz, President and Chief Executive Officer
          (360) 828-0700