<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SIRROM CAPITAL, CORPORATION FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      247,958,383
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     260,715,637
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,455,789
<ASSETS-OTHER>                              24,090,270
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             287,261,696
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                    125,071,000
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    5,651,639
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                        130,722,639
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                            132,407,465
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                             0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       12,328,567
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        9,195,116
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                    8,002,404
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      5,061,800
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    12,607,245
<NET-ASSETS>                               156,539,057
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                           16,837,156
<OTHER-INCOME>                               5,033,632
<EXPENSES-NET>                              10,015,756
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     11,855,033
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     7,206,489
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    2,793,944
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       19,090,506
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    7,028,049
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                       577,200
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      3,198,451
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                     65,000
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                      5,972,873
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                      620,271
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           5,979,355
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                             10,015,756
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       122,442,335
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.61
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .96
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           3.09
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                               .96
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                           .0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                .0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.70
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   .082
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                     105,765,500
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                              8.58