<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> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1998 <CASH> 3,902,764 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 19,772,696 <ALLOWANCES> 13,870,519 <INVENTORY> 660,977 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 29,209,090 <PP&E> 4,692,332 <DEPRECIATION> 2,227,424 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 41,626,632 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 20,782,139 <BONDS> 19,041,437 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 60,428 <COMMON> 72,129 <OTHER-SE> 22,995,633 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 41,626,632 <SALES> 33,383,740 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 33,383,740 <CGS> 17,716,708 <TOTAL-COSTS> 32,516,747 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 214,652 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,347,844 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 883,549 <INCOME-PRETAX> 260,063 <INCOME-TAX> 45,411 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 214,652 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 214,652 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0