Barrett Business Services, Inc. provides business management solutions, such as human resource outsourcing and professional management consulting for small and medium-sized businesses in the United States. The company’s integrated platform is grounded in expertise in payroll processing, employee benefits, workers’ compensation coverage, risk management and workplace safety programs, human resource administration, recruiting, and permanent placement. Services The company offers two categories of services: professional employer services (PEO) and staffing. PEO The company enters into a client services agreement to become a co-employer of the client’s existing workforce, assuming responsibility for payroll, payroll taxes, workers’ compensation coverage, and certain other administration functions, while the business owner client maintains physical care, custody, and control of their workforce, including the authority to hire and terminate employees. Staffing and Recruiting The company is able to identify and source the right talent to meet the needs of its clients. Through its assessment process, it gains an understanding of short and long term needs of its clients, allowing the company to identify the right talent for each position. The company then conducts a rigorous screening process to help ensure a successful hire. Its staffing services include on-demand or short-term staffing assignments, contract staffing, long-term or indefinite-term on-site management, and direct placement. During 2012, the company provided staffing services to approximately 1,850 staffing services customers. Customers The company has client services agreements with an array of customers, including electronics manufacturers, various light-manufacturing industries, agriculture-based companies, transportation and shipping enterprises, food processing, telecommunications, public utilities, general contractors in various construction-related fields, and professional services firms. During 2012, the company served approximately 2,910 PEO clients. In addition, it served approximately 2,550 PEO clients and employed approximately 56,210 employees pursuant to PEO contracts. Strategy The company's business strategy is to support, strengthen and expand branch office operations; penetrate new markets; and pursue strategic acquisitions. Competition The company's competitors include Automatic Data Processing, Inc.; Manpower, Inc.; Kelly Services, Inc.; Insperity, Inc.; TriNet; and Paychex, Inc. Regulatory and Legislative Issues The company offers various qualified employee benefit plans to its employees, including those employees for whom the company is the administrative employer in a co-employment agreement who so elect. These qualified employee benefit plans include its 401(k) plan, a cafeteria plan under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code, and group health, life insurance and disability insurance plans. Qualified employee benefit plans are subject to provisions of both the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. History Barrett Business Services, Inc. was founded in 1965. The company was incorporated in the state of Maryland in 1965.