-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ARUb3PfTarXN5QmmPoJLYpFPOW2QH1yKs2qjJfTln4J1Ed3XNQh7YbBvpnuwETWG
 4mR6y78nu3PL7S103MXsvQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001052045-05-000100.txt : 20050303
<SEC-HEADER>0001052045-05-000100.hdr.sgml : 20050303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050303161650
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001052045-05-000100
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050303

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WARD JONATHAN P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182078
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14762
		FILM NUMBER:		05658179

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SERVICEMASTER
		STREET 2:		2300 WARRENSVILLE ROAD
		CITY:			DOWNERS GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60515
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6302712875

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SERVICEMASTER CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001052045
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MANAGEMENT SERVICES [8741]
		IRS NUMBER:				363858106
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3250 LACEY ROAD, SUITE 600
		CITY:			DOWNERS GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60515
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6306632700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3250 LACEY ROAD, SUITE 600
		CITY:			DOWNERS GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60515
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001182078d20050303f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001052045</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SERVICEMASTER CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SVM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182078</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WARD JONATHAN P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3250 LACEY ROAD, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DOWNERS GROVE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60515-1700</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6280</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.205</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>667778</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>295</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k) plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-01-09</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1630000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1630000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.83</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-02-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-02-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>425000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>425000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.87</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-02-28</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-02-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3605</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3605</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2000 Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.88</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-03-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-03-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>172000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>172000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2003 EIP Stock Appreciation Right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.73</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-02-13</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>190000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>190000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2003 EIP Stock Appreciation Right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.44</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-02-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>190000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>190000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Exercisable as to 380,000 shares on grant date (January 9, 2001) and becomes exercisable as to an additional 250,000 shares on December 31 in each of the years 2001 through 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option is exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of the grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option was issued pursuant to the WeServeHomes.com, Inc. 2000 Option/Stock Issuance Plan and is subject to repurchase rights upon termination of employment according to the following:  25% of the shares lapse upon first anniversary of grant date and the remainder in a series of 36 successive equal monthly installments.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sandra L. Groman by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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