Page 47
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)

                ASPIRATION ACHIEVEMENT INCENTIVE AWARD AGREEMENT
                             FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS




          THIS AGREEMENT, made as of the 17th day of September, 1996 (the "Grant
Date"),  between  NATIONAL  SERVICE  INDUSTRIES,  INC.,  a Delaware  corporation
("NSI")  and___________,  a Subsidiary of NSI  (together,  the  "Company"),  and
____________ (the "Grantee").

          WHEREAS,  NSI  has  adopted  the  National  Service  Industries,  Inc.
Long-Term Achievement Incentive Plan (the "Plan") in order to provide additional
incentives to certain  officers and key  employees of NSI and its  Subsidiaries;
and

          WHEREAS, the Committee  responsible for administration of the Plan has
determined to grant to the Grantee an Aspiration  Achievement Incentive Award as
provided herein.

          NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

          1. Grant of Aspiration Award.

          1.1 The Company hereby grants to the Grantee an Aspiration Achievement
Incentive  Award (the  "Award"),  which has a value  determined  as  provided in
Section 2 below based upon the performance of NSI during the  Performance  Cycle
from  September 1, 1996 to August 31, 1999.  As provided in the Plan,  Grantee's
right to payment of this Award is dependent upon Grantee's continued  employment
in  Grantee's  current  position  with  the  Company,  or  in  a  position  with
responsibilities  of  substantially  similar  value to the  Company  during  the
Performance Cycle. Under certain  circumstances as described below,  Grantee may
be  entitled  to receive  payment  for some  portion  of the Award if  Grantee's
employment terminates prior to the end of the Performance Cycle.

          1.2 The Grantee hereby acknowledges  receipt of a copy of the Plan and
agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof. This Agreement shall
be construed in accordance with, and subject to, the provisions of the Plan (the
provisions  of which  are  hereby  incorporated  by  reference)  and,  except as
otherwise  expressly  set  forth  herein,  the  capitalized  terms  used in this
Agreement shall have the same definitions as set forth in the Plan.

          2. Performance Measure and Performance Levels

          The   Committee  has   established   the   performance   measure  (the
"Performance Measure"), and award and performance levels set forth in Appendix A
attached  hereto.  The chart in Appendix A specifies  a  Commitment  performance
level,  at  which  the  Commitment  Level  Award  will be  paid;  an  Aspiration


Page 48
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)


performance level, at or above which an Aspiration Level Award will be paid; and
a threshold  performance  level, at which a minimum incentive award will be paid
and below which no award will be paid. For each level of performance at or above
the  threshold  performance  level  through the  Aspiration  performance  level,
Grantee  will  receive  an award  determined  in  accordance  with the chart and
formulae set forth in Appendix A. The terms used in determining  the Performance
Measure are defined in Appendix B.

          3. Determination of Aspiration Award.

          3.1 Determination Notice. Subject to Section 3.2, as soon as practical
following the last day of the Performance  Cycle,  the Committee will determine,
in accordance with Section 7(c) of the Plan, the  performance  level of NSI with
respect to the Performance  Measure for the Performance Cycle. The Committee may
in determining  the performance  level with respect to the  Performance  Measure
adjust NSI's financial  results for the Performance  Cycle to exclude the effect
of unusual charges or income items which are distortive of financial results for
the Performance Cycle;  provided,  that, in determining financial results, items
whose exclusion from  consideration will increase the Grantee's Award shall only
have their  effects  excluded if they  constitute  "extraordinary  items"  under
generally accepted  accounting  principles and all such items shall be excluded.
The  Committee  shall also adjust the  performance  calculations  to exclude the
unanticipated  effect on financial  results of changes in the Code, or other tax
laws, and the regulations  thereunder.  The Committee may decrease the amount of
the Award  otherwise  payable  to  Grantee  if,  in the  Committee's  view,  the
financial  performance  of NSI  during  the  Performance  Cycle  justifies  such
adjustment,  regardless of the extent to which the Performance  Measure has been
achieved.

          The  Company   will  notify  the   Grantee   (or  the   executors   or
administrators  of the  Grantee's  estate,  if  applicable)  of the  Committee's
determination  (the  "Determination  Notice").  The  Determination  Notice shall
specify the performance level of NSI with respect to the Performance Measure for
the Performance  Cycle and the amount of Award (if any) Grantee will be entitled
to receive.  The amount  Grantee is entitled to receive will be paid one-half in
cash and  one-half in Shares,  with the Shares being valued at their Fair Market
Value as of the last day of the Performance Cycle.

          3.2 Significant  Corporate Events. If, during a Performance Cycle, NSI
consummates  an  acquisition  or  disposition  that involves  assets whose value
equals or exceeds 30% of the total value of NSI's assets,  the  following  rules
shall apply:

          (a) If the  transaction  is  consummated  during the first year of the
Performance  Cycle, the Performance  Cycle and the Grantee's  outstanding  Award
will be terminated with no payout and a new Performance Cycle will be started.

          (b) If the  transaction  is  consummated  after the first  year of the
Performance Cycle, the Performance Cycle will end and the outstanding Award will
be determined  and paid at NSI's actual  performance  level to such date (using,
for such purpose,  prorated  performance  levels of the  Performance  Measure to
reflect the portion of the Performance  Cycle that had elapsed as of the date of
consummation  of the acquisition or  disposition).  Payment of the Award will be

                                                                         Page 49
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)


made as soon as practical after it is determined.  A new Performance  Cycle will
be started to cover the period remaining in the initial Performance Cycle or, if
that result is not practical,  the Committee will make an appropriate adjustment
to reflect the premature termination of the initial Performance Cycle.

          If, during a Performance  Cycle,  NSI  consummates  an  acquisition or
disposition that involves assets whose value is less than 30% of the total value
of NSI's  assets,  the  effects  of such  acquisition  or  disposition  shall be
disregarded in determining NSI's financial results and performance level for the
Performance Cycle.

          Any actions under this Section 3.2 shall be taken in  accordance  with
the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder.

          4. Termination of Employment

          4.1 In General. Except as provided in Sections 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 below,
in the event that a Grante's employment  terminates during a Performance Cycle,
all unearned Aspiration Awards shall be immediately forfeited by the Grantee.

          4.2 Termination of Employment Due to Death, Disability, or Retirement.
In the event the  employment  of a Grantee is  terminated  by reason of death or
Disability  during a  Performance  Cycle,  the  Grantee  shall be  entitled to a
prorated payout with respect to the unearned Award. The prorated payout shall be
determined by the  Committee  based upon the length of time that the Grantee was
actively  employed during the  Performance  Cycle relative to the full length of
the Performance Cycle; provided that payment shall only be made to the extent at
the end of the Performance Cycle the Award would have been earned based upon the
performance  level achieved for the Performance  Cycle;  and provided,  further,
that the  performance  level used to determine the prorated  award cannot exceed
200% of the Commitment performance level.

          In the event of  Grantee's  Retirement  (on or after age 65), the full
Award shall  continue to be  eligible  for payout at the end of the  Performance
Cycle,  just as if  Grantee  had  remained  employed  for the  remainder  of the
Performance Cycle (including if the Grantee dies after Retirement but before the
end of the  Performance  Cycle).  At the  end  of  the  Performance  Cycle,  the
Committee shall make its determination in the same manner as provided in Section
3.

          Payment of earned Awards to Grantee in the event of termination due to
death,  Disability,  or Retirement shall be made at the same time payments would
be  made  to  Grantee  if  Grantee  did  not  terminate  employment  during  the
Performance Cycle.

          4.3 Change In Control.  Notwithstanding  anything in this Agreement to
the contrary,  if a Change in Control occurs during the Performance  Cycle, then
the Grantees

Page 50
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)


Award shall be determined for the  Performance  Cycle then in progress as though
the Performance  Cycle had ended as of the date of the Change in Control and the
outstanding  Award  will be paid at the  Commitment  Level  Award or the  actual
performance level to such date (using,  for such purpose,  prorated  performance
levels of the  Performance  Measure to reflect  the  portion of the  Performance
Cycle  that had  elapsed  as of the date of the  Change in  Control),  whichever
provides  the greater  payment.  The Award  determined  in  accordance  with the
preceding sentence shall be fully vested and payable immediately to the Grantee.
The  Committee  shall  determine the amount of the Award under this Section 5.3,
subject to the terms of this  section  and no downward  adjustment  of the Award
shall be permitted.  The Award will be paid in full in cash,  unless the Grantee
elects to receive  one-half of the Award in Shares.  For purposes of determining
the number of Shares to be paid to a Grantee  under this  Section  4.3, the Fair
Market Value of a Share shall be determined by taking the average  closing price
per share for the last twenty (20) trading days prior to the commencement of the
offer, transaction or other event which resulted in a Change in Control.

          4.4 Termination  Without Cause.  In the event Grantee's  employment is
terminated  by the  Company  without  Cause  more  than one (1) year  after  the
commencement  of the  Performance  Cycle and prior to the end of the Performance
Cycle,  the Grantee  shall be  entitled to a prorated  payout of the Award based
upon the  length of time that the  Grantee  was  actively  employed  during  the
Performance  Cycle  relative  to  the  full  length  of the  Performance  Cycle;
provided,  that  payment  shall  only be made  to the  extent  at the end of the
Performance  Cycle the Award would have been earned  based upon the  performance
level  achieved for the  Performance  Cycle;  and  provided,  further,  that the
performance level used to determine the prorated award cannot exceed 200% of the
Commitment  performance level. Payment shall be made to Grantee at the same time
as if Grantee had not terminated employment during the Performance Cycle.

          5. No Right to Continued Employment.

          Nothing in this  Agreement or the Plan shall be  interpreted to confer
upon the Grantee any rights with respect to  continuance  of  employment  by the
Company,  nor shall this  Agreement  or the Plan  interfere  in any way with the
right of the Company to terminate the Grantee's employment at any time.

          6. Nonassignment.

          The  Grantee  shall not have the right to  assign,  alienate,  pledge,
transfer or encumber  any  amounts  due  Grantee  hereunder,  and any attempt to
assign,  alienate,  pledge,  transfer,  or encumber Grantee's rights or benefits
shall be null and void and not recognized by the Plan or the Company.

                                                                         Page 51
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)

          7. Modification of Agreement.

          This Agreement may be modified,  amended, suspended or terminated, and
any terms or conditions may be waived, but only by a written instrument executed
by the parties hereto.

          8. Severability; Governing Law.

          Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent
jurisdiction  to be  unenforceable  or invalid  for any  reason,  the  remaining
provisions  of this  Agreement  shall not be affected by such  holding and shall
continue in full force in accordance with their terms.

          The validity,  interpretation,  construction  and  performance of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware  without giving
effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

          9. Successors in Interest.

          This  Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any
successor  to the  Company.  All  obligations  imposed  upon the Grantee and all
rights  granted to the Company  under this  Agreement  shall be binding upon the
Grantee's heirs, executors, and administrators.

          10. Resolution of Disputes.

          Any dispute or disagreement  which may arise under, or as a result of,
or in any way relate to, the interpretation, construction or application of this
Agreement shall be determined by the Committee. Any determination made hereunder
shall be final,  binding and  conclusive  on the Grantee and the Company for all
purposes.


          11. Withholding of Taxes.

          The  Company  shall have the right to deduct  from any amount  payable
under this  Agreement,  an amount equal to the  federal,  state and local income
taxes  and  other  amounts  as  may be  required  by  law  to be  withheld  (the
"Withholding  Taxes") with respect to any such amount. In satisfaction of all or
part of the Withholding Taxes, the Grantee may make a written election (the "Tax
Election"),  which may be accepted or rejected in the discretion of the Company,
to have  withheld a portion of the Shares  issuable to him or her pursuant to an
Award, having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Withholding Taxes.


Page 52
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)
        
          12. Shareholder Approval.

          The  effectiveness  of this  Agreement  and of the  grant of the Award
pursuant  hereto is subject to the approval of the Plan by the  stockholders  of
NSI in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

                                       NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                        By: /s/ James S. Balloun  
                                             Chairman of the Board and 
                                             Chief Executive Officer


                                        ___________, Subsidiary


                                        By: /s/ James S. Balloun
                                             JAMES S. BALLOUN
                                             Chairman of the Board and 
                                             Chief Executive Officer


                                        /s/
                                        Name of Grantee: _____________






                                                                         Page 53
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)


                                                                    Exhibit A(1)
YOUR AWARD OPPORTUNITY


Name:                           :    Jim Balloun

Position                        :    CEO, Chairman

Division                        :    NSI

Performance Period              :    1997-1999

Award at Commitment             :    $480,000





YOUR POTENTIAL PAYOUT

The following graph depicts the potential incentive award that would be paid out
at different levels of NSI cumulative  economic profit,  including:  a Threshold
performance level; a Commitment performance level; and an Aspiration performance
level.





NSI Cumulative Economic Profit                                          Payout*
($ Millions)                                                            ($ 000s)
                                                                    

Threshold**                                                             $  120

Commitment**                                                            $  480

Aspiration**                                                            $2,400




  *Amounts between performance benchmarks will be interpolated.


**Confidential  information  has been  omitted  and  filed  separately  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.



Page 54
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)
                                                                    Exhibit A(1)
                                                                     (continued)


                     ASPIRATION ACHIEVEMENT INCENTIVE AWARD

                                       FOR

                         1997 - 1999 PERFORMANCE PERIOD


                                       NSI




Formula:  Payout as a Percent of Commitment Award = a  x  EP  +  b


Below Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.02799

     b = -0.83302


Above Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.05755

     b = -2.76978


Notes:

     1.   EP = Cumulative Economic Profit for performance period,  which will be
          expressed in millions, rounded to one decimal place.

     2.   Values for "a" and "b" will be rounded to five decimal places.

     3.   Payout percentages will be rounded to a tenth of a percent.

     4.   No award is payable below the Threshold Level EP,  notwithstanding the
          formula set forth above.

     5.   The  maximum  award  payable is 500% of the  Commitment  Level  award,
          notwithstanding the formula set forth above.



                                                                         Page 55
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)
                                                                    Exhibit A(2)

YOUR AWARD OPPORTUNITY


Name:                           :    Brock Hattox

Position                        :    AVP, CFO

Division                        :    NSI

Performance Period              :    1997-1999

Award at Commitment             :    $224,000





YOUR POTENTIAL PAYOUT

The following graph depicts the potential incentive award that would be paid out
at different levels of NSI cumulative  economic profit,  including:  a Threshold
performance level; a Commitment performance level; and an Aspiration performance
level.





NSI Cumulative Economic Profit                                          Payout*
($ Millions)                                                           ($ 000s)
                                                                    

Threshold**                                                             $   56

Commitment**                                                            $  224

Aspiration**                                                            $1,120




*Amounts between performance benchmarks will be interpolated.


**Confidential  information  has been  omitted  and  filed  separately  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.


Page 56
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)
                                                                    Exhibit A(2)
                                                                     (continued)

                     ASPIRATION ACHIEVEMENT INCENTIVE AWARD

                                       FOR

                         1997 - 1999 PERFORMANCE PERIOD


                                       NSI




Formula:  Payout as a Percent of Commitment Award = a  x  EP  +  b


Below Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.02799

     b = -0.83302


Above Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.05755

     b = -2.76978


Notes:

     1.   EP = Cumulative Economic Profit for performance period,  which will be
          expressed in millions, rounded to one decimal place.

     2.   Values for "a" and "b" will be rounded to five decimal places.

     3.   Payout percentages will be rounded to a tenth of a percent.

     4.   No award is payable below the Threshold Level EP,  notwithstanding the
          formula set forth above.

     5.   The  maximum  award  payable is 500% of the  Commitment  Level  award,
          notwithstanding the formula set forth above.


                                                                         Page 57
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)
                                                                    Exhibit A(3)


YOUR AWARD OPPORTUNITY


Name:                           :    David Levy

Position                        :    EVP, Administration & Counsel

Division                        :    NSI

Performance Period              :    1997-1999

Award at Commitment             :    $214,000





YOUR POTENTIAL PAYOUT

The following graph depicts the potential incentive award that would be paid out
at different levels of NSI cumulative  economic profit,  including:  a Threshold
performance level; a Commitment performance level; and an Aspiration performance
level.





NSI Cumulative Economic Profit                                         Payout*
($ Millions)                                                          ($ 000s)
                                                                  

Threshold**                                                            $   54

Commitment**                                                           $  214

Aspiration**                                                           $1,070




*Amounts between performance benchmarks will be interpolated.


**Confidential  information  has been  omitted  and  filed  separately  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.


Page 58
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)
                                                                    Exhibit A(3)
                                                                     (continued)

                     ASPIRATION ACHIEVEMENT INCENTIVE AWARD

                                       FOR

                         1997 - 1999 PERFORMANCE PERIOD


                                       NSI




Formula:  Payout as a Percent of Commitment Award = a  x  EP  +  b


Below Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.02799

     b = -0.83302


Above Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.05755

     b = -2.76978


Notes:

     1.   EP = Cumulative Economic Profit for performance period,  which will be
          expressed in millions, rounded to one decimal place.

     2.   Values for "a" and "b" will be rounded to five decimal places.

     3.   Payout percentages will be rounded to a tenth of a percent.

     4.   No award is payable below the Threshold Level EP,  notwithstanding the
          formula set forth above.

     5.   The  maximum  award  payable is 500% of the  Commitment  Level  award,
          notwithstanding the formula set forth above.

                                                                         Page 59
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)
                                                                    Exhibit A(4)


YOUR AWARD OPPORTUNITY


Name:                           :    Stewart Searle

Position                        :    SVP, Planning Development

Division                        :    NSI

Performance Period              :    1997-1999

Award at Commitment             :    $128,000





YOUR POTENTIAL PAYOUT

The following graph depicts the potential incentive award that would be paid out
at different levels of NSI cumulative  economic profit,  including:  a Threshold
performance level; a Commitment performance level; and an Aspiration performance
level.





NSI Cumulative Economic Profit                                         Payout*
($ Millions)                                                           ($ 000s)
                                                                   

Threshold**                                                             $ 32

Commitment**                                                            $128

Aspiration**                                                            $640




*Amounts between performance benchmarks will be interpolated


**Confidential  information  has been  omitted  and  filed  separately  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

Page 60
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)
                                                                    Exhibit A(4)
                                                                     (continued)


                     ASPIRATION ACHIEVEMENT INCENTIVE AWARD

                                       FOR

                         1997 - 1999 PERFORMANCE PERIOD


                                       NSI




Formula:  Payout as a Percent of Commitment Award = a  x  EP  +  b


Below Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.02799

     b = -0.83302


Above Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.05755

     b = -2.76978


Notes:

     1.   EP = Cumulative Economic Profit for performance period,  which will be
          expressed in millions, rounded to one decimal place.

     2.   Values for "a" and "b" will be rounded to five decimal places.

     3.   Payout percentages will be rounded to a tenth of a percent.

     4.   No award is payable below the Threshold Level EP,  notwithstanding the
          formula set forth above.

     5.   The  maximum  award  payable is 500% of the  Commitment  Level  award,
          notwithstanding the formula set forth above.



                                                                         Page 61
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(8)


  
                                   APPENDIX B

                             ASPIRATION ACHIEVEMENT
                                 INCENTIVE AWARD
                               PERFORMANCE MEASURE


                                                       

PERFORMANCE MEASURE                                       DEFINITION


Economic Profit                                           Sum of the annual economic profits for the performance
                                                          cycle.  Annual economic profit shall be determined as
                                                          follows:  Adjusted After-Tax Profits (AATP) minus
                                                          [Average Invested Capital times the Weighted Average
                                                          Cost of Capital (WACC)]


RELATED TERMS                                             DEFINITION


Average Invested Capital                                  Average of the average beginning and ending Invested
                                                          Capital balances each month.

Adjusted After-Tax Profit (AATP)                          Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit minus Book Income Taxes.

Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit (APTP)                            Income before provision for income taxes plus interest
                                                          expense plus implied interest on capitalized operating
                                                          leases.

Book Income Taxes                                         Reported tax rate (determined by dividing
                                                          the provision for income taxes by the
                                                          income before the provision for income
                                                          taxes, as reported in NSI's annual financial
                                                          statements) applied to APTP.

Invested Capital                                          [Total assets plus capitalized operating leases, less
                                                          short and long-term investment in tax benefits] less
                                                          [non-interest bearing liabilities except for self
                                                          insurance reserves and deferred tax credits relating to
                                                          the safe harbor lease].

Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)                   Ten percent (10%) will be the WACC for the Performance
                                                          Cycle ending August 31, _____.