ServiceMaster began franchising its home-service businesses in 1952. The company had started in Chicago in 1947 as a mothproofing business founded by Marion E. Wade.
Wade’s original work focused on protecting homes from insects and moth damage. ServiceMaster then developed a broader set of residential and commercial services, including cleaning, restoration, lawn care, and termite control through different business units and brands.
Franchising allowed local operators to deliver services in their own territories while using ServiceMaster training, brand standards, marketing, and operating systems. That structure suited services that needed local labor and customer relationships.
The company’s service portfolio changed over time through acquisitions, divestitures, and brand reorganizations. Therefore, the 1952 milestone refers to the start of franchising, not the founding of every later ServiceMaster brand.