<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> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1998 <CASH> 3,039,800 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 14,547,771 <ALLOWANCES> 9,116,310 <INVENTORY> 460,156 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 23,190,457 <PP&E> 3,091,779 <DEPRECIATION> 1,795,106 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 30,062,869 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 13,691,347 <BONDS> 10,829,929 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 60,408 <COMMON> 71,694 <OTHER-SE> 22,967,160 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 30,062,869 <SALES> 8,936,424 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 8,936,424 <CGS> 4,499,110 <TOTAL-COSTS> 8,761,022 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 126,692 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,241,210 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 205,316 <INCOME-PRETAX> 48,710 <INCOME-TAX> 10,717 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 37,993 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 37,993 <EPS-PRIMARY> .01 <EPS-DILUTED> .01