Page 39
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(9)

                ASPIRATION ACHIEVEMENT INCENTIVE AWARD AGREEMENT
                             FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS



     THIS  AGREEMENT,  made as of the 23rd day of  September,  1997 (the  "Grant
Date"),  between  National  Service  Industries,  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation
("NSI")  and NSI  SERVICES,  L.P.  (GA),  a  Subsidiary  of NSI  (together,  the
"Company"), and Grantee (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 the  Operations  during the
     Performance Cycle from September 1, 1997 to August 31, 2000. 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





Page 40
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(9)

Award  will be paid,  an  Aspiration  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 performance  level of NSI 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
     shall also exclude from  consideration the effect on financial  performance
     of each of the following  events or items where the result of excluding the
     particular  event or item is to increase the performance  level of NSI: (i)
     an  acquisition  or a  divestiture  involving  more than $10 million in net
     worth or $25 million in  business  revenues;  (ii) an equity  restructuring
     involving more than $1 million;  (iii) asset impairment  charges  involving
     more than $1 million and restructuring costs involving more than $1 million
     associated with facility closings or reduction in employment  levels;  (iv)
     changes in accounting  treatment or rules  involving  more than $1 million.
     The  Committee  may decrease the amount of the Award  otherwise  payable to
     Grantee if, in the  Committee's  view,  such  adjustment  is  necessary  or
     desirable,  regardless of the extent to which the  Performance  Measure has
     been achieved.  The Committee may establish such  guidelines and procedures
     for reducing the amount of an Award as it deems appropriate.

          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 the  Operations  with  respect  to the
     Performance  Measure for the Performance  Cycle and the amount of Award (if
     any) Grantee will be entitled to receive.  Unless the Committee  determines
     otherwise at the time the Award is paid and except as otherwise provided in
     the event of a Change in Control, the amount Grantee is entitled to receive
     will be paid  one-half in cash and  one-half in Shares.  The Shares will be
     valued at their  Fair  Market  Value as of the last day of the  Performance
     Cycle. Except in the case of a Change in Control, the Committee may, in its
     discretion, attach restrictions,  terms and conditions to the Shares issued
     as part of the Award.


          3.2 Significant  Corporate Events. If, during a Performance Cycle, NSI
     consummates an acquisition  or disposition  that (i) involves  assets whose
     value  equals or  exceeds  20% of the  total  value of NSI's  assets,  (ii)
     represents a part of the business whose revenues equal or exceed 20% of the
     total of NSI's revenues,  or (iii) causes a material  restructuring of NSI,
     the following rules shall apply:





                                                                         Page 41
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(9)




          (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
     containing a new Award 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,
     taking into account the  adjustments  provided for in Section 3.1 above and
     using 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 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 is not covered by the special  provisions of this Section
     3.2, the financial  effects of such  acquisition  or  disposition  shall be
     handled as provided in Section 3.1.


          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 Grantee'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  (taking into account the  adjustment  provisions  and other rules in
     Section 3 above); 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.




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                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(9)

          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 Grantee's 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 has 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  4.3,  subject to the terms of this
     section,  and no downward  adjustment  of the Award  which would  result in
     reduction of the Award by more than 50% 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 be made only to the extent
     at the end of the Performance  Cycle the Award would have been earned based
     upon the performance  level achieved  during the Performance  Cycle (taking
     into account the adjustment provisions and other rules in Section 3 above);
     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 43
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(9)

     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 44
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(9)


     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
                                JAMES S. BALLOUN
                                Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer



                            NSI SERVICES, L.P. (GA), Subsidiary



                            By: /s/ James S. Balloun
                                JAMES S. BALLOUN
                                Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer





                            Name of Grantee:




                                                                         Page 45
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(9)

                                                                   Appendix A(1)

NSI Aspiration Award Program Illustration - FY 1998-2000

Name:           James S. Balloun                        Division:      NSI Total
Position:       Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Salary:         $750,000

Total LTI Multiple:                  160%
AAI % of LTI:                        30%


                                                  Achievement Level
                                      Threshold       Commitment      Aspiration
FY98-00 Economic Profit ($000,000)    **              **              **
Individual AAI Opportunity            $90,000         $360,000        $1,800,000


Aspiration Award Program Opportunity

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.


                                                          Individual
                                                          Aspiration
Economic Profit (000,000)                                 Award

Threshold**                                               $   90,000

Commitment**                                              $  360,000

Aspiration**                                              $1,800,000


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




Page 46
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(9)

                                                                   Appendix A(2)

NSI Aspiration Award Program Illustration - FY 1998-2000

Name:           Brock A. Hattox                        Division:       NSI Total
Position:       EVP, Chief Financial Officer
Salary:               $360,000

Total LTI Multiple:                  160%
AAI % of LTI:                        30%


                                                  Achievement Level
                                      Threshold       Commitment      Aspiration
FY98-00 Economic Profit ($000,000)    **              **              **
Individual AAI Opportunity            $43,200         $172,800        $864,000


Aspiration Award Program Opportunity

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.


                                                          Individual
                                                          Aspiration
Economic Profit (000,000)                                 Award

Threshold**                                               $ 43,200

Commitment**                                              $172,800

Aspiration**                                              $864,000


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




                                                                         Page 47
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(9)

                                                                   Appendix A(3)

NSI Aspiration Award Program Illustration - FY 1998-2000

Name:           David Levy                             Division:       NSI Total
Position:       EVP, Administration & Counsel
Salary:         $350,000

Total LTI Multiple:                  160%
AAI % of LTI:                        30%


                                                  Achievement Level
                                      Threshold       Commitment      Aspiration
FY98-00 Economic Profit ($000,000)    **              **              **
Individual AAI Opportunity            $42,000         $168,000        $840,000


Aspiration Award Program Opportunity

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.


                                                          Individual
                                                          Aspiration
Economic Profit (000,000)                                 Award

Threshold**                                               $ 42,000

Commitment**                                              $168,000

Aspiration**                                              $840,000


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




Page 48
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(9)

                                                                   Appendix A(4)

NSI Aspiration Award Program Illustration - FY 1998-2000

Name:           Stewart A. Searle                       Division:      NSI Total
Position:       SVP, Corporate Development
Salary:         $225,000

Total LTI Multiple:                  160%
AAI % of LTI:                        30%


                                                  Achievement Level
                                      Threshold       Commitment      Aspiration
FY98-00 Economic Profit ($000,000)    **              **              **
Individual AAI Opportunity            $27,000         $108,000        $540,000


Aspiration Award Program Opportunity

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.


                                                          Individual
                                                          Aspiration
Economic Profit (000,000)                                 Award

Threshold**                                               $ 27,000

Commitment**                                              $108,000

Aspiration**                                              $540,000


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




                                                                         Page 49
                                                             Exhibit 10(iii)A(9)

                                   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.