-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 z/w2+I/F3TX9dkVptS416w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000205700-03-000093.txt : 20030528
<SEC-HEADER>0000205700-03-000093.hdr.sgml : 20030528
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030528165718
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000205700-03-000093
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030523
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030528

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000205700
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MANIFOLD BUSINESS FORMS [2761]
		IRS NUMBER:				042942374
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0629

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 MAIN ST
		CITY:			GROTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01471
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9784486111

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHLERF STEVEN G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001094173
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MANIFOLD BUSINESS FORMS [2761]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0627

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11427
		FILM NUMBER:		03722026

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE INC
		STREET 2:		500 MAIN ST
		CITY:			GROTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01471
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9784486111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE INC
		STREET 2:		500 MAIN ST
		CITY:			GROTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01471
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>sch175.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-05-23</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000205700</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NEB</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
		<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001094173</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHLERF STEVEN G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Stock Par Value $1.00</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-02-26</value>
			<footnoteId id="F1"/>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>68.069</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>22.250</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>8642.121</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Stock Par Value $1.00</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-23</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>140.056</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>25.990</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>4030.112</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>I</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value>By 401(k)</value>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Stock, Restricted, Par Value $1.00</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-23</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>34.573</value>
				<footnoteId id="F3"/>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>25.990</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>4527.220</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<derivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Options (Right to Buy)</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<value>15.000</value>
		</conversionOrExercisePrice>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-02-24</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>2500</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>21.779</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<exerciseDate>
			<value>2000-10-19</value>
			<footnoteId id="F4"/>
		</exerciseDate>
		<expirationDate>
			<value>2010-10-19</value>
		</expirationDate>
		<underlyingSecurity>
			<underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock Par Value $1.00</value>
			</underlyingSecurityTitle>
			<underlyingSecurityShares>
				<value>2500.000</value>
			</underlyingSecurityShares>
		</underlyingSecurity>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>2500.000</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</derivativeSecurity>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Total includes common shares purchased pursuant to a broad based dividend reinvestment program.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">401(K) is a unitized stock fund consisting of company stock and cash and the amount of securities listed on this form is expressed in equivalent shares.  The amount of shares attributed to a plan participant and expressed as equivalent shares may change from time to time without the volition of the plan participant and depends upon the amount of cash in the fund, the fair market value of company stock, and the number of plan participants.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F3">Amount represents dividends on restricted shares that are automatically reinvested in additional restricted shares under the terms of the underlying restricted stock award.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F4">The share options became exercisable in 4 yearly installments of 4,125 beginning 10/19/2000;  8,250 options of the total grant are currently exercisable as of this date.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: /S/ Michelle R. Palermo-Murphy as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-05-28</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----