<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-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998 <CASH> 2,784,147 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 20,749,696 <ALLOWANCES> 8,564,436 <INVENTORY> 587,101 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 29,212,061 <PP&E> 4,243,646 <DEPRECIATION> 2,022,928 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 40,778,338 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 20,847,812 <BONDS> 18,007,882 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 60,408 <COMMON> 72,129 <OTHER-SE> 22,998,015 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 40,778,338 <SALES> 46,553,730 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 46,553,730 <CGS> 25,058,008 <TOTAL-COSTS> 45,488,765 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 840,582 <LOSS-PROVISION> 6,084,941 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,280,737 <INCOME-PRETAX> 558,283 <INCOME-TAX> (38,300) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 596,583 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 596,583 <EPS-PRIMARY> .08 <EPS-DILUTED> .07