Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Significant Accounting Policies
Significant Accounting Policies	Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies The Company’s significant accounting policies are included in the 2012 Form 10-K. The following selected accounting policies should be read in conjunction with the 2012 Form 10-K. Revenues from lawn care and pest control services, as well as liquid and fumigation termite applications, are recognized as the services are provided. The Company eradicates termites through the use of non-baiting methods (e.g., fumigation or liquid treatments) and baiting systems. Termite services using baiting systems, termite inspection and protection contracts, as well as home warranties, are frequently sold through annual contracts for a one-time, upfront payment. Direct costs of these contracts (service costs for termite contracts and claim costs for home warranties) are expensed as incurred. The Company recognizes revenue over the life of these contracts in proportion to the expected direct costs. Those costs bear a direct relationship to the fulfillment of the Company’s obligations under the contracts and are representative of the relative value provided to the customer (proportional performance method). The Company regularly reviews its estimates of direct costs for its termite bait contracts and home warranties and adjusts the estimates when appropriate. The Company has franchise agreements in its Terminix, TruGreen, ServiceMaster Clean, AmeriSpec, Furniture Medic and Merry Maids businesses. Franchise revenue (which in the aggregate represents approximately four percent of annual consolidated operating revenue from continuing operations) consists principally of continuing monthly fees based upon the franchisee’s customer level revenue. Monthly fee revenue is recognized when the related customer level revenue generating activity is performed by the franchisee and collectability is reasonably assured. Franchise revenue also includes initial fees resulting from the sale of a franchise or license. These initial franchise or license fees are pre-established, fixed amounts and are recognized as revenue when collectability is reasonably assured and all material services or conditions relating to the sale have been substantially performed. Total profits from the franchised operations were $20.3 million and $17.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $59.0 million and $50.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Consolidated operating income from continuing operations was $120.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 compared to consolidated operating loss from continuing operations of $723.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. Consolidated operating loss from continuing operations was $423.6 million and $572.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company evaluates the performance of its franchise businesses based primarily on operating profit before corporate general and administrative expenses, interest expense and amortization of intangible assets. The portion of total franchise fee income related to initial fees received from the sale of franchises was immaterial to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for all periods. The Company had $514.3 million and $483.9 million of deferred revenue as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. Deferred revenue consists primarily of payments received for annual contracts relating to home warranties, termite baiting, termite inspection, pest control and lawn care services. Customer acquisition costs, which are incremental and direct costs of obtaining a customer, are deferred and amortized over the life of the related contract in proportion to revenue recognized. These costs include sales commissions and direct selling costs which can be shown to have resulted in a successful sale. Deferred customer acquisition costs amounted to $46.2 million and $33.9 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. TruGreen has significant seasonality in its business. In the winter and spring, this business sells a series of lawn applications to customers which are rendered primarily in March through October (the production season). This business incurs incremental selling expenses at the beginning of the year that directly relate to successful sales for which the revenues are recognized in later quarters. On an interim basis, TruGreen defers these incremental selling expenses, pre-season advertising costs and annual repair and maintenance costs that are incurred primarily in the first quarter. These costs are deferred and recognized in proportion to the revenue generated over the production season and are not deferred beyond the calendar year-end. Other business segments of the Company also defer, on an interim basis, advertising costs incurred early in the year. These pre-season costs are deferred and recognized approximately in proportion to revenue over the balance of the year and are not deferred beyond the calendar year-end. The cost of direct-response advertising at Terminix, consisting primarily of direct-mail promotions, is capitalized and amortized over its expected period of future benefits. The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions required under GAAP which may differ from actual results. Disclosures in the 2012 Form 10-K presented the significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and discussed how management formed its judgments. The areas discussed included revenue recognition; the allowance for uncollectible receivables; accruals for self-insured retention limits related to medical, workers’ compensation, auto and general liability insurance claims; accruals for home warranties and termite damage claims; the possible outcome of outstanding litigation; accruals for income tax liabilities as well as deferred tax accounts; the deferral and amortization of customer acquisition costs; useful lives for depreciation and amortization expense; the valuation of marketable securities; and the valuation of tangible and intangible assets. Newly Issued Accounting Statements and Positions In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2012-02, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other: Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment,” which amends the guidance on testing indefinite-lived intangible assets, other than goodwill, for impairment. This standard allows an entity testing an indefinite-lived intangible asset for impairment the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of the asset. If entities determine, on the basis of the qualitative assessment, that the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset is more likely than not greater than its carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test would not be required. Otherwise, further testing would be needed. This standard revises the examples of events and circumstances that an entity should consider in interim periods, but it does not revise the requirements to test indefinite-lived intangible assets (1) annually for impairment and (2) between annual tests if there is a change in events or circumstances. The amendments in this standard are effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. The Company adopted the required provisions of this standard during the first quarter of 2013. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, “Reporting of Amounts Reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income” to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income by requiring an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. The amendments in this standard do not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements and are effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company adopted the required provisions of this standard during the first quarter of 2013. The disclosures required by this standard are presented in Note 7 of the Company’s notes to its condensed consolidated financial statements. In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” to eliminate the diversity in practice associated with the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits in instances where a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. ASU 2013-11 generally requires an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, to be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except in certain circumstances. The amendments in ASU 2013-11 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company is currently evaluating the effects that this guidance will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies

The Company’s significant accounting policies are included in the 2012 Form 10-K. The following selected accounting policies should be read in conjunction with the 2012 Form 10-K.

Revenues from lawn care and pest control services, as well as liquid and fumigation termite applications, are recognized as the services are provided. The Company eradicates termites through the use of non-baiting methods (e.g., fumigation or liquid treatments) and baiting systems. Termite services using baiting systems, termite inspection and protection contracts, as well as home warranties, are frequently sold through annual contracts for a one-time, upfront payment. Direct costs of these contracts (service costs for termite contracts and claim costs for home warranties) are expensed as incurred. The Company recognizes revenue over the life of these contracts in proportion to the expected direct costs. Those costs bear a direct relationship to the fulfillment of the Company’s obligations under the contracts and are representative of the relative value provided to the customer (proportional performance method). The Company regularly reviews its estimates of direct costs for its termite bait contracts and home warranties and adjusts the estimates when appropriate.

The Company has franchise agreements in its Terminix, TruGreen, ServiceMaster Clean, AmeriSpec, Furniture Medic and Merry Maids businesses. Franchise revenue (which in the aggregate represents approximately four percent of annual consolidated operating revenue from continuing operations) consists principally of continuing monthly fees based upon the franchisee’s customer level revenue. Monthly fee revenue is recognized when the related customer level revenue generating activity is performed by the franchisee and collectability is reasonably assured. Franchise revenue also includes initial fees resulting from the sale of a franchise or license. These initial franchise or license fees are pre-established, fixed amounts and are recognized as revenue when collectability is reasonably assured and all material services or conditions relating to the sale have been substantially performed. Total profits from the franchised operations were $20.3 million and $17.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $59.0 million and $50.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Consolidated operating income from continuing operations was $120.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 compared to consolidated operating loss from continuing operations of $723.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012. Consolidated operating loss from continuing operations was $423.6 million and $572.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company evaluates the performance of its franchise businesses based primarily on operating profit before corporate general and administrative expenses, interest expense and amortization of intangible assets. The portion of total franchise fee income related to initial fees received from the sale of franchises was immaterial to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for all periods.

The Company had $514.3 million and $483.9 million of deferred revenue as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. Deferred revenue consists primarily of payments received for annual contracts relating to home warranties, termite baiting, termite inspection, pest control and lawn care services.

Customer acquisition costs, which are incremental and direct costs of obtaining a customer, are deferred and amortized over the life of the related contract in proportion to revenue recognized. These costs include sales commissions and direct selling costs which can be shown to have resulted in a successful sale. Deferred customer acquisition costs amounted to $46.2 million and $33.9 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

TruGreen has significant seasonality in its business. In the winter and spring, this business sells a series of lawn applications to customers which are rendered primarily in March through October (the production season). This business incurs incremental selling expenses at the beginning of the year that directly relate to successful sales for which the revenues are recognized in later quarters. On an interim basis, TruGreen defers these incremental selling expenses, pre-season advertising costs and annual repair and maintenance costs that are incurred primarily in the first quarter. These costs are deferred and recognized in proportion to the revenue generated over the production season and are not deferred beyond the calendar year-end. Other business segments of the Company also defer, on an interim basis, advertising costs incurred early in the year. These pre-season costs are deferred and recognized approximately in proportion to revenue over the balance of the year and are not deferred beyond the calendar year-end.

The cost of direct-response advertising at Terminix, consisting primarily of direct-mail promotions, is capitalized and amortized over its expected period of future benefits.

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions required under GAAP which may differ from actual results. Disclosures in the 2012 Form 10-K presented the significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and discussed how management formed its judgments. The areas discussed included revenue recognition; the allowance for uncollectible receivables; accruals for self-insured retention limits related to medical, workers’ compensation, auto and general liability insurance claims; accruals for home warranties and termite damage claims; the possible outcome of outstanding litigation; accruals for income tax liabilities as well as deferred tax accounts; the deferral and amortization of customer acquisition costs; useful lives for depreciation and amortization expense; the valuation of marketable securities; and the valuation of tangible and intangible assets.

Newly Issued Accounting Statements and Positions

In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2012-02, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other: Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment,” which amends the guidance on testing indefinite-lived intangible assets, other than goodwill, for impairment. This standard allows an entity testing an indefinite-lived intangible asset for impairment the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of the asset. If entities determine, on the basis of the qualitative assessment, that the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset is more likely than not greater than its carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test would not be required. Otherwise, further testing would be needed. This standard revises the examples of events and circumstances that an entity should consider in interim periods, but it does not revise the requirements to test indefinite-lived intangible assets (1) annually for impairment and (2) between annual tests if there is a change in events or circumstances. The amendments in this standard are effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012. The Company adopted the required provisions of this standard during the first quarter of 2013. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, “Reporting of Amounts Reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income” to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income by requiring an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. The amendments in this standard do not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements and are effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company adopted the required provisions of this standard during the first quarter of 2013. The disclosures required by this standard are presented in Note 7 of the Company’s notes to its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” to eliminate the diversity in practice associated with the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits in instances where a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. ASU 2013-11 generally requires an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, to be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except in certain circumstances. The amendments in ASU 2013-11 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company is currently evaluating the effects that this guidance will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements.