<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-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1997 <CASH> 2,070,498 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 13,952,434 <ALLOWANCES> 7,882,140 <INVENTORY> 501,726 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 20,546,616 <PP&E> 2,981,559 <DEPRECIATION> 1,573,117 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 29,779,103 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 15,599,435 <BONDS> 13,088,776 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 71,153 <OTHER-SE> 22,845,046 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 29,779,103 <SALES> 29,064,409 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 29,064,409 <CGS> 14,448,216 <TOTAL-COSTS> 27,489,457 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 890,366 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,986,739 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 834,145 <INCOME-PRETAX> 942,998 <INCOME-TAX> 52,632 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 890,366 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 890,366 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0