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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2014

Commission File No. 0-21886

BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(360) 828-0700

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).     Yes  x     No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

Number of shares of common stock, $.01 par value, outstanding at October 31, 2014 was 7,116,525 shares.

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

INDEX

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Part I - Financial Information

BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation of Interim Period Statements

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared by Barrett Business Services, Inc. (“Barrett”, “BBSI”, the “Company”, “our” or “we”), pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and note disclosures typically included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, the consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from such estimates and assumptions. The consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K at pages F1 – F29. The results of operations for an interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full year.

Revenue recognition

We recognize revenue as services are rendered by our workforce. Professional employer services are normally used by organizations to satisfy ongoing human resource management needs and typically involve contracts with a minimum term of one year, which cover all employees at a particular work site. Our client services agreements are renewable on an annual basis and typically require 30 days’ written notice to cancel or terminate the contract by either party. Our client services agreements provide for immediate termination upon any default of the client regardless of when notice is given. We report professional employer services revenues on a net basis because we are not the primary obligor for the services provided by our co-employed clients to their customers pursuant to our client services agreements. Consequently, our professional employer service revenues represent the gross margin generated from our professional employer services after deducting the amounts invoiced to clients for direct payroll expenses such as salaries and wages and safety incentives. These amounts are also excluded from cost of revenues. Professional employer service revenues also include amounts invoiced to our clients for employer payroll-related taxes and workers’ compensation coverage. Staffing services are engaged by customers to meet short-term and long-term personnel needs.

Marketable securities

As of September 30, 2014, the Company’s marketable securities consisted of tax-exempt municipal securities, U.S. Treasuries, variable rate demand notes (VRDN) and corporate bonds. The Company classifies municipal securities, U.S. Treasuries, VRDN and corporate bonds as available for sale; they are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, shown as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. In the event a loss is determined to be other-than-temporary, the loss will be recognized in the statement of operations.

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation of Interim Period Statements (Continued)

Allowance for doubtful accounts

The Company had an allowance for doubtful accounts of $313,000 and $242,000 at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The Company must make estimates of the collectability of accounts receivable. Management analyzes historical bad debts, customer concentrations, customer creditworthiness, current economic conditions and changes in customers’ payment trends when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company deems an account balance uncollectible only after it has pursued all available assets of the customer and, where applicable, the assets of the personal guarantor.

Workers’ compensation claims

The Company is a self-insured employer with respect to workers’ compensation coverage for all of its employees (including employees co-employed through our client service agreements) working in California, Oregon, Maryland, Delaware and Colorado, except as described below. In the state of Washington, state law allows only the Company’s staffing services and internal management employees to be covered under the Company’s self-insured workers’ compensation program. Additionally, the Company operates a wholly owned fully licensed insurance company, Ecole Insurance Company (“Ecole”), in Arizona to provide workers’ compensation coverage to our employees in Arizona.

To manage our financial exposure, in the event of catastrophic injuries or fatalities, the Company maintains excess workers’ compensation insurance through our wholly owned captive insurance company, Associated Insurance Company for Excess (“AICE”), with a per occurrence retention of $5.0 million, except in Maryland and Colorado, where our per occurrence retention is $1.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively. AICE maintains excess workers’ compensation insurance coverage with ACE Group (“ACE”), between $5.0 million and $15.0 million per occurrence, except in Maryland, where coverage with ACE is between $1.0 million and $25.0 million per occurrence, and in Colorado, where the coverage with ACE is between $2.0 million and statutory limits per occurrence. The Company continues to evaluate the financial capacity of its insurers to assess the recoverability of the related insurer receivables.

The Company has provided a total of $208.3 million and $112.4 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, as an estimated future liability for unsettled workers’ compensation claims liabilities. The estimated liability for unsettled workers’ compensation claims represents management’s best estimate based upon an actuarial valuation provided by a third party actuary at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2014. Included in the claims liabilities are case reserve estimates for reported losses, plus additional amounts based on projections for incurred but not reported claims and anticipated increases in case reserve estimates. Also included in these estimates are amounts for unallocated loss adjustment expenses, including legal costs. These estimates are continually reviewed and adjustments to liabilities are reflected in current operating results as they become known.

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation of Interim Period Statements (Continued)

Workers’ compensation claims (Continued)

Our workers’ compensation claims liabilities do not represent an exact calculation of liability, but instead represent management’s best estimate, generally utilizing actuarial expertise and projection techniques, at a given accounting date. The process of estimating unpaid claims and claim adjustment expense involves a high degree of judgment and is subject to a number of variables. These variables can be affected by both internal and external events such as changes in claims handling procedures, changes in individuals involved in the reserve estimation process, inflation, legal trends and legislative changes.

We have undertaken a number of steps during the past two years to improve our workers’ compensation claims administration practices. These steps include hiring additional claim administrators in response to our business growth, and working to close litigated claims more quickly.

Beginning in late 2013, as part of our efforts to improve our claims handling practices, the Company initiated a specific case reserve study on its open workers’ compensation claims with injury dates in 2012 and earlier. The specific case reserve study resulted in moving dollars from the general reserve of incurred but not reported claims and future loss development into specific case reserves for individual claims. This process was intended to provide management with a more accurate estimate of the ultimate total cost of each claim at a detailed level. Additionally, in mid-2013, the Company initiated a change to its individual claim handling practices by recording specific case reserves on new claims at amounts that include all of the anticipated future costs and working to close claims more quickly with the goal of reducing the ultimate total cost of the claims.

In May 2014, the Company engaged an actuarial consultant to assist management in studying selected historical claims experience and the impact of the change in its claims handling process. During the third quarter of 2014, the Company engaged a new actuary to assist management in determining its best estimate of the Company’s workers’ compensation liability. Based on the work of the new actuary and a thorough review of the Company’s claims handling practices and the results of the work performed by the actuarial consultant engaged during the second quarter of 2014, management reached the conclusion in October 2014 that based on actuarial methods the estimate of workers’ compensation liability should reflect a significant increase for the potential development of prior period claims. The Company recorded total workers’ compensation claims expense of $101.2 million during the third quarter of 2014, including a $61.3 million change in estimate relating to prior period claims. Management’s primary considerations in arriving at its estimate of workers’ compensation liability include the significant increase in the Company’s business in recent years, the potential for unexpected future adverse development of open claims, and the increasing complexity and uncertainty surrounding healthcare costs.

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation of Interim Period Statements (Continued)

Workers’ compensation claims (Continued)

In February 2014, the Company entered into a workers’ compensation insurance arrangement with ACE to provide coverage to BBSI employees in California beginning in the first quarter of 2014. The agreement is effective through January 2015 with the potential for annual renewals thereafter.

The arrangement, typically known as a fronted program, provides BBSI a licensed, admitted insurance carrier in California to issue policies on behalf of BBSI without the intention of transferring any of the worker’s compensation risk for the first $5.0 million per claim. The risk of loss up to the first $5.0 million per claim is retained by BBSI through an indemnity agreement.

During the first quarter of 2014, the Company made an initial deposit of $20.0 million into a trust account established between the Company and ACE related to the new ACE fronted insurance program. The Company began making monthly payments in April 2014 into the trust account to be set aside for the payment of future claims. The balance in the trust account as of September 30, 2014 totaled $31.1 million. The $31.1 million is included in the $43.8 million of restricted marketable securities and workers’ compensation deposits in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

Safety incentives liability

Safety incentives represent cash incentives paid to certain client companies under client service agreements for maintaining safe-work practices in order to minimize workplace injuries, thereby meeting agreed-upon loss objectives. The Company has provided $14.1 million at September 30, 2014 and $13.1 million at December 31, 2013 as an estimate of the liability for unpaid safety incentives. The incentive is based on a percentage of annual payroll and is paid annually to customers who meet predetermined workers’ compensation claims cost objectives. Safety incentive payments are made only after closure of all workers’ compensation claims incurred during the customer’s contract period. The liability is estimated and accrued each month based upon the incentive earned less the then-current amount of the customer’s estimated workers’ compensation claims reserves as established by the Company’s internal and third-party claims administrators, and the expected payout as determined by historical incentive payment trends. Safety incentive expense is netted against professional employer services revenue in our consolidated statements of operations.

Statements of cash flows

Interest paid during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 did not materially differ from interest expense. Income taxes paid by the Company during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 totaled $3.0 million and $6.1 million, respectively.

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation of Interim Period Statements (Continued)

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2014 presentation. Such reclassifications had no impact on the Company’s financial condition, operating results, cash flows, working capital or stockholders’ equity.

Accounting estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Estimates are used for carrying values of marketable securities, allowance for doubtful accounts, deferred income taxes, carrying values for goodwill and property and equipment, accrued workers’ compensation liabilities and safety incentive liabilities. Actual results may or may not differ from such estimates.

Note 2 – Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on disclosure of uncertainties about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The new guidance requires an entity’s management to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued, and if so, disclose that fact. Management is also required to evaluate and disclose whether its plans alleviate that doubt. The guidance is effective for us in 2017 and will be applicable to both annual and interim reporting periods. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have an impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Note 3 – Revolving Credit Facility

The Company maintains a credit agreement (the “Agreement”) with its principal bank, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Bank”). The Agreement, which expires October 1, 2017, provides for a revolving credit facility with a borrowing capacity of up to $16.5 million at September 30, 2014. The Company had no outstanding borrowings on its revolving credit facility at September 30, 2014 or at December 31, 2013. The Agreement also provides for the continuance of existing standby letters of credit in connection with various surety deposit requirements for workers’ compensation purposes, as to which the amount outstanding totaled approximately $25.1 million at September 30, 2014.

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

Note 3 – Revolving Credit Facility (Continued)

Advances under the revolving credit facility bear interest, at the Company’s option, at either (a) a fixed rate for a term selected by the Company from time-to-time or (b) a fluctuating rate. In each case, the rate is calculated based on LIBOR plus 1.75%. The Agreement also provides for an unused commitment fee of 0.25% per annum on the average daily unused amount of the revolving credit facility.

The credit facility is collateralized by the Company’s accounts receivable and other rights to receive payment, general intangibles and equipment. Under the Agreement, the maximum principal amount available is reduced by $2.5 million every six months commencing April 1, 2013.

The Agreement, as amended, requires the satisfaction of certain financial covenants as follows:

The Agreement also contains customary events of default. If an event of default under the Agreement occurs and is continuing, the Bank may declare any outstanding obligations under the Agreement to be immediately due and payable. As a result of the increase in the Company’s workers’ compensation liabilities as of September 30, 2014, to a total of approximately $208.3 million, and the related workers’ compensation claims expense accrual of $101.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, the Company was in violation of the above financial covenants at September 30, 2014, other than the prohibition on incurring additional indebtedness. On November 10, 2014, the Company reached an agreement with the Bank pursuant to which the Bank has agreed to waive the covenant violations in exchange for payment of a waiver fee of $20,000 and a requirement that the Company present a plan acceptable to the Bank by December 31, 2014, addressing the Company’s workers’ compensation reserve funding requirements. Until the reserve funding plan has been accepted by the Bank, the Company may not make any repurchases of its outstanding common stock or draw on the revolving credit facility to fund its insurance reserves.

Note 4 - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share reflect the potential effects of the exercise of outstanding stock options and vesting of restricted stock units. Basic and diluted common shares outstanding are summarized as follows (in thousands):

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

Note 4 - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Continued)

As a result of the net loss reported for the three months and the nine months ended September 30, 2014, 251,418 and 265,818 potential common shares, respectively, have been excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share because their effect would be anti-dilutive.

Note 5 - Workers’ Compensation

The following table summarizes the aggregate workers’ compensation reserve activity (in thousands):

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

Note 5 - Workers’ Compensation (Continued)

The Company recorded total workers’ compensation claims expense of $101.2 million during the third quarter of 2014, including a $61.3 million change in estimate relating to prior period claims. See Note 1.

Note 6 - Fair Value Measurement

Marketable securities consist of the following investments (in thousands):

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

Note 6 - Fair Value Measurement (Continued)

The Company’s long-term restricted marketable securities component of restricted marketable securities and workers’ compensation deposits consists of the following (in thousands):

The Company’s long-term restricted certificates of deposit are summarized as follows (in thousands):