-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PvRRZ75Exd5l6909YFV3/2M6sSJ6ZIzUkfcPghLEqAUH5nuy9TKXot1NHklvE9Eu
 hv21btqRk1yV2umM2uYdMA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000205700-03-000271.txt : 20031103
<SEC-HEADER>0000205700-03-000271.hdr.sgml : 20031103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031103143353
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000205700-03-000271
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031103

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:			STERN BRIAN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001094175
		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:		03972612

	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>ste290.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-11-03</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000205700</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NEB</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001094175</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STERN BRIAN E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>#1 PANHANDLE LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06880</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock Par Value $1.00</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-11-03</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>378</value>
					<footnoteId id="F1"/>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>29.100</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>2498.000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock Par Value $1.00</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>3423.000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>I</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value>By Spouse</value>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeHolding>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Options (Right to Buy)</value>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>29.100</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-11-03</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>3000</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>29.100</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2004-11-03</value>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2013-11-02</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock Par Value $1.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>3000.000</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>3000.000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Represents shares granted pursuant to the Company's Stock Compensation Plan.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">The share options vest in full on the first anniversary date following the grant date. The options are granted pursuant to the Company's Stock Compensation Plan.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: /S/ Michelle R. Palermo-Murphy as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-11-03</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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