<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from (a) the Balance Sheet and Statement of Operations filed as part of the Annual Report on Form 10-K and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such (b) Report on Form 10-K. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997 <CASH> 3,013,825 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 13,737,881 <ALLOWANCES> 8,564,436 <INVENTORY> 453,870 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 22,065,254 <PP&E> 2,973,022 <DEPRECIATION> 1,685,298 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 29,095,059 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 12,649,814 <BONDS> 9,484,887 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 60,408 <COMMON> 71,694 <OTHER-SE> 22,967,160 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 29,095,059 <SALES> 38,660,184 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 38,660,184 <CGS> 19,339,274 <TOTAL-COSTS> 36,775,153 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (1,176,144) <LOSS-PROVISION> 5,291,507 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,124,432 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,061,175 <INCOME-TAX> (138,740) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,199,915 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,199,915 <EPS-PRIMARY> .36 <EPS-DILUTED> .36