<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                      61,423,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                              628,139,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                41,043,000
<INVENTORY>                                433,533,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         1,805,430,000
<PP&E>                                     638,090,000<F1>
<DEPRECIATION>                             343,887,000<F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           4,377,298,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    1,144,657,000
<BONDS>                                  1,464,559,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                290,170,000
<COMMON>                                   597,118,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 517,169,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             4,377,298,000
<SALES>                                    638,828,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         1,140,434,000
<CGS>                                      404,934,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              641,052,000<F3>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                           417,970,000<F4>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             7,430,000<F5>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           8,201,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             73,211,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                28,552,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         44,659,000
<DISCONTINUED>                              20,151,000
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           (12,156,000)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                52,654,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.36
<FN>
<F1>INCLUDES EQUIPMENT ON OPERATING LEASES, AT COST, OF $262,353,000
<F2>INCLUDES ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION FOR EQUIPMENT ON OPERATING LEASES OF
$166,527,000
<F3>INCLUDES FINANCE SUBSIDIARIES INTEREST OF $20,011,000
<F4>REPRESENTS SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
<F5>CONTINUING OPERATIONS ONLY.
</FN>