Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI) Cash Flow Statement

NASDAQ: BBSIOperating cash, capex, free cash flow and buybacks.

Where BBSI’s cash came from and went, 2025

December 31, 2025 · U.S. dollars
Cash from operations
$66.0M
+553.9% vs 2024
Capital expenditures
$18.8M
1.5% of revenue
Free cash flow
$47.2M
3.8% margin
Returned to shareholders
$56.2M
119% of free cash flow
Change in cash
$43.7M
cash at year-end $126.3M
Cash from operations: $66.0MCash from operations$66.0MInvestments (net): $8.3MInvestments (net)$8.3MAcquisitions & other: $41.2MAcquisitions & other$41.2MOther financing: $3.2MOther financing$3.2MShare buybacks: $48.0MShare buybacks$48.0M · 40%Capital expenditures: $18.8MCapital expenditures$18.8M · 16%Dividends: $8.2MDividends$8.2M · 7%Added to cash: $43.7MAdded to cash$43.7M · 37%$118.7M
Cash from operations
$66.0M
Capital expenditures
−$18.8M
Investments (net)
+$8.3M
Acquisitions & other
+$41.2M
Dividends
−$8.2M
Share buybacks (net)
−$48.0M
Other financing
+$3.2M
Change in cash
$43.7M

Drawn to scale: where the cash came from and how it was used. Hover for values.

BBSI operating cash flow, capex and free cash flow

Operating cash flowCapital expendituresFree cash flowFCF margin (right axis)

BBSI cash flow trends, 2016–2025

Barrett Business Services, Inc. cash flow trends
MetricTrendThenLatestChange
Operating cash flow$80.3M2016$66.0M2025−2.2%/yr
Capital expenditures$7.1M2016$18.8M2025+11.4%/yr
Free cash flow$73.2M2016$47.2M2025−4.8%/yr
Free cash flow margin8.7%20163.8%2025−4.9 pts
Operating cash flow / net income4.2720161.212025−3.06
Stock-based compensation$2.8M2016$10.4M2025+15.7%/yr
Dividends paid$6.4M2016$8.2M2025+2.8%/yr
Share buybacks (net)$433,0002016$48.0M2025+68.7%/yr
Capex / revenue0.8%20161.5%2025+0.7 pts

Change is the average annual growth (CAGR) or the difference between the first and latest year.

BBSI cash flow by activity

OperatingInvestingFinancingChange in cash

BBSI net income vs operating cash flow

Net incomeOperating cash flow

Operating cash flow above net income usually means earnings are backed by cash (depreciation and stock-based pay are non-cash expenses).

BBSI cash flow statement

Barrett Business Services, Inc. annual cash flow statement
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Operating activities
Net income$54.4M$53.0M$50.6M$47.3M$38.1M$33.8M$48.3M$38.1M$25.2M$18.8M
Depreciation & amortization$8.3M$7.6M$7.1M$6.2M$5.3M$4.8M$3.9M$4.2M$5.5M$3.3M
Stock-based compensation$10.4M$8.8M$8.5M$7.4M$5.4M$3.4M$7.2M$5.5M$4.2M$2.8M
Change in working capital−$15.9M−$64.8M−$12.3M−$39.9M−$73.5M−$83.9M$7.0M$23.0M$74.1M$57.4M
Other non-cash items$8.8M$5.5M$13.3M$6.8M$9.2M$13.9M$10.8M−$965,000$4.0M−$1.9M
Cash from operating activities$66.0M$10.1M$67.2M$27.8M−$15.5M−$27.9M$77.1M$69.8M$112.9M$80.3M
Investing activities
Capital expenditures−$18.8M−$14.2M−$11.8M−$16.0M−$6.8M−$8.6M−$10.8M−$5.7M−$3.7M−$7.1M
Investments (net)$8.3M$38.8M$1.1M$18.7M$20.4M−$17.8M$34.4M−$61,000$4.4M$4.5M
Acquisitions & other investing$41.2M$14.2M−$44.5M$58.4M−$126.5M$30.6M$42.7M−$33.6M−$95.5M−$30.5M
Cash from investing activities$30.8M$38.8M−$55.2M$61.2M−$112.9M$4.1M$66.3M−$39.3M−$94.8M−$33.1M
Financing activities
Dividends paid−$8.2M−$8.1M−$8.1M−$8.5M−$9.1M−$9.1M−$8.2M−$7.3M−$7.3M−$6.4M
Share repurchases & issuance (net)−$48.0M−$29.1M−$34.2M−$47.2M−$17.3M−$8.1M−$3.1M−$3.0M−$1.7M−$433,000
Net borrowing (repayment)$0$0$0−$3.5M−$221,000−$220,000−$221,000−$220,000−$221,000−$15.2M
Shares issued$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0
Other financing$3.2M−$3.9M−$2.3M−$981,000−$309,000$1.7M$754,000$577,000$163,000$325,000
Cash from financing activities−$53.0M−$41.1M−$44.6M−$60.2M−$26.9M−$15.7M−$10.8M−$9.9M−$9.0M−$21.7M
Summary
Net change in cash$43.7M$7.7M−$32.5M$28.7M−$155.2M−$39.5M$132.6M$20.5M$9.1M$25.6M
Cash at end of period$126.3M$82.6M$74.8M$107.4M$78.6M$233.8M$273.3M$140.7M$59.8M$50.8M
Free cash flow$47.2M−$4.1M$55.4M$11.8M−$22.3M−$36.5M$66.3M$64.1M$109.2M$73.2M
Free cash flow margin3.8%−0.4%5.2%1.1%−2.3%−4.1%7.0%6.8%11.9%8.7%
Capex / revenue1.5%1.2%1.1%1.5%0.7%1.0%1.1%0.6%0.4%0.8%
Operating cash flow / net income1.210.191.330.59−0.41−0.831.601.834.484.27

Negative numbers are cash paid out. Quarterly columns are labeled by the month the quarter ended. Figures in U.S. dollars as reported; data from EODHD.

BBSI cash generation

In fiscal 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), Barrett Business Services generated $66.0 million of cash from operations (up 553.9%) and spent $18.8 million on capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of $47.2 million, 3.8% of revenue. It returned $56.2 million to shareholders through dividends ($8.2 million) and net share buybacks ($48.0 million). Cash and equivalents rose by $43.7 million over the year.

Related: BBSI income statement, BBSI balance sheet, BBSI dividend history. See the BBSI stock overview for the latest quote and news.

BBSI cash flow FAQ

What is Barrett Business Services's free cash flow?

Barrett Business Services's free cash flow was $47.2 million in fiscal 2025: $66.0 million of operating cash flow minus $18.8 million of capital expenditures It was -$4.1 million a year earlier..

How much cash does Barrett Business Services generate from operations?

Barrett Business Services generated $66.0 million of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2025, 1.21 times its net income of $54.4 million.

How much does Barrett Business Services spend on capital expenditures?

Barrett Business Services spent $18.8 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, 1.5% of revenue, compared with $14.2 million the year before.

How much stock does Barrett Business Services buy back?

Barrett Business Services spent $48.0 million on net share repurchases in fiscal 2025.

How much does Barrett Business Services pay in dividends?

Barrett Business Services paid $8.2 million in dividends in fiscal 2025, 17.3% of free cash flow.

Staffing & Employment Services: cash flow