<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-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-1998 <CASH> 3,976,409 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 18,078,572 <ALLOWANCES> 14,212,816 <INVENTORY> 656,490 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 27,445,601 <PP&E> 4,611,849 <DEPRECIATION> 1,955,834 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 40,263,373 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 19,225,606 <BONDS> 17,390,356 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 72,079 <OTHER-SE> 22,992,089 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 40,263,373 <SALES> 19,744,928 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 19,744,928 <CGS> 10,029,008 <TOTAL-COSTS> 19,267,477 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 273,744 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,739,162 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 463,597 <INCOME-PRETAX> 203,707 <INCOME-TAX> 41,717 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 161,990 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 161,990 <EPS-PRIMARY> .02 <EPS-DILUTED> .02