<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from (a) the Balance Sheet and Statement of Operations filed as part of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such (b) Report on Form 10-Q. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-1997 <CASH> 2,251,203 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 13,373,523 <ALLOWANCES> 7,518,205 <INVENTORY> 412,648 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 19,985,226 <PP&E> 2,780,359 <DEPRECIATION> 1,464,671 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 29,158,267 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 15,361,925 <BONDS> 12,552,753 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 63,003 <OTHER-SE> 22,493,705 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 29,158,267 <SALES> 19,249,995 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 19,249,995 <CGS> 9,629,418 <TOTAL-COSTS> 18,294,810 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 523,499 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,647,282 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 558,430 <INCOME-PRETAX> 530,282 <INCOME-TAX> 6,783 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 523,499 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 523,499 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0