<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
 Page 132
                                   EXHIBIT 27


                             Financial Data Schedule
                           Year Ended August 31, 2000
                  Pursuant to Section 601(c) of Regulation S-K


This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from National
Service Industries,  Inc.  consolidated  balance sheet as of August 31, 2000 and
the consolidated  statement of income for the year ended August 31, 2000, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.

</LEGEND>

                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 12-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                SEP-1-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                  AUG-31-2000
<CASH>                                           1,510
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  431,449
<ALLOWANCES>                                     7,537
<INVENTORY>                                    257,579
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               761,724
<PP&E>                                         795,126
<DEPRECIATION>                                 368,067
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,820,139
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          540,652
<BONDS>                                        384,242
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        57,919
<OTHER-SE>                                     610,551
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,820,139
<SALES>                                      2,244,659
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,566,181
<CGS>                                        1,358,140
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,542,007
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               810,980
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 4,792
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              45,216
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                163,186
<INCOME-TAX>                                    63,316
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             99,870
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    99,870
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.45
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.45