<ARTICLE>                          5
<LEGEND>
Page 92                                               
Exhibit 27


                             Financial Data Schedule
                           Year Ended August 31, 1996
                  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, 1996 and
the  consolidated  statement of income for the year ended August 31, 1996 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.

</LEGEND>
                                  
       
                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         AUG-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                            SEP-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                              AUG-31-1996
<CASH>                                         58,663
<SECURITIES>                                      551
<RECEIVABLES>                                 275,779
<ALLOWANCES>                                    5,807
<INVENTORY>                                   169,813
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              606,381
<PP&E>                                        765,337
<DEPRECIATION>                                407,941
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              1,094,646
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         197,426
<BONDS>                                        24,920
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                       57,919
<OTHER-SE>                                    660,089
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                1,094,646
<SALES>                                     1,482,937
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            2,013,562
<CGS>                                         933,405
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               1,237,786
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              609,025
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              4,903
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               161,848
<INCOME-TAX>                                   60,700
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           101,148
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                  101,148
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    2.11
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    2.09