<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
     SERVICEMASTER QUARTERLY REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED
     JUNE 30, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                    1000

                                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS          6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1999    DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                  JAN-01-1999    JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                    JUN-30-1999    JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                          53,934         52,324
<SECURITIES>                    55,713         65,580
<RECEIVABLES>                   618,728        418,921
<ALLOWANCES>                    43,608         37,576
<INVENTORY>                     82,586         55,135
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                984,584        733,392
<PP&E>                          629,912        432,802
<DEPRECIATION>                  320,265        240,730
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  3,809,179      2,804,220
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           845,811        681,245
<BONDS>                         1,644,961      1,173,159
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>           0              0
<PREFERRED>                     0              0
<COMMON>                        3,115          1,964
<OTHER-SE>                      1,190,249      818,173
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    3,809,179      2,804,220
<SALES>                         0              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                2,652,136      2,226,415
<CGS>                           0              0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                   2,068,652      1,746,163
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                448,217        296,684
<LOSS-PROVISION>                0              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>              50,838         48,640
<INCOME-PRETAX>                 93,699         143,752
<INCOME-TAX>                    40,055         58,078
<INCOME-CONTINUING>             53,644         85,674
<DISCONTINUED>                  0              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                 0              0
<CHANGES>                       0              0
<NET-INCOME>                    53,644         85,674
<EPS-BASIC>                   0.18           0.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                   0.17           0.29