8-K

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                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                       Washington, D.C.  20549

                               Form 8-K

                            CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 7, 2004

                   NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE, INC.
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          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware                          1-11427           04-2942374
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(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission            (IRS Employer
 of incorporation)              File Number)    Identification No.)

        500 Main Street, Groton, MA                     01471
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    (Address of principal executive offices)          (ZIP Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (978) 448-6111
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Item 5.  Other Events.
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On January 7, 2004, New England Business Service, Inc. issued a press release
announcing that it has acquired certain assets of Stephen Fossler Company,
Inc. and its affiliates.  A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99
hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
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(c)  Exhibits.
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99.  Press release dated January 7, 2004.

                               SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                      NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE, INC.
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                                                (Registrant)

January 7, 2004                             DANIEL M. JUNIUS
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    Date                                    Daniel M. Junius
                                            Executive Vice President, Chief
                                            Financial Officer and Treasurer

EX-99

                                 Exhibit 99

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                               DANIEL M. JUNIUS AT (978) 449-3416



               NEW ENGLAND BUSINESS SERVICE, INC.
     ACQUIRES STEPHEN FOSSLER COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


GROTON, MA - January 7, 2004 - New England Business Service, Inc.
(NYSE: NEB) today announced that it has acquired certain assets of
Stephen Fossler Company, Inc. and its affiliates (Fossler).
Privately held Fossler manufactures and markets a broad line of
embossed anniversary seals, and distributes retail store signage and
commemorative specialty products through direct mail in the U.S.,
Canada and the U.K. Located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, Fossler, had
revenues of approximately $20 million in their most recent fiscal
year ending in September, 2003.

To acquire certain assets of Fossler, NEBS paid $27 million in cash,
subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment.  The financial
impact of the acquisition in fiscal year 2004 is projected to be
minimal, but is expected to add five to seven cents per share to
earnings beginning in fiscal 2005.

Mr. Richard T. Riley, NEBS President and CEO, stated, "The
acquisition of Fossler continues to expand NEBS' leadership position
in serving the small business market.  Their direct mail channel,
customers, and exclusive product set align closely to the NEBS
business model."

New England Business Service, Inc. is a leading business-to-business
company with approximately 3.1 million active small business
customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and
France. The Company supplies a wide variety of business products and
services including checks, forms and other printed material which
are marketed through direct mail, telesales, a direct sales force,
dealers, dedicated distributors and the Internet.  The Company
also designs, embroiders and sells specialty apparel products
through distributors and independent sales representatives to the
promotional products/advertising specialty industry, primarily in
the United States.   More information about New England Business
Service, Inc. is available at the Company's web site, nebs.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including
expectations for future revenue and earnings performance arising
from current trends in referenced product lines and channels, and
other initiatives.  These forward-looking statements reflect New
England Business Service, Inc.'s current expectations only, and the
Company expressly disclaims any current intention to update such
statements.  There can be no assurance that the Company's actual
results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied
by these statements due to various risks and uncertainties,
including the risks and uncertainties associated with successfully
integrating the two companies and retaining key personnel, changed
customer preferences or economic conditions affecting demand for the
Company's products, and other factors described in the New England
Business Service, Inc.'s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2003, on file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

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