<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SIRROM CAPITAL CORPORATION FOR THE TWELVE MONTH PERIOD
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      262,943,963
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     275,337,296
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,870,138
<ASSETS-OTHER>                               9,805,632
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             288,013,066
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                    120,858,213
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    8,534,338
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                        129,392,551
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                            138,896,414
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                             0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       12,343,567
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       10,093,567
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                    1,517,560
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      5,813,208
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    12,393,333
<NET-ASSETS>                               158,620,515
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                           24,395,072
<OTHER-INCOME>                               6,549,283
<EXPENSES-NET>                              13,821,744
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     17,122,611
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     9,462,991
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    2,580,047
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       24,895,595
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                   10,976,390
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                       577,200
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      3,213,451
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                     65,000
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                      6,252,182
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                      620,271
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           8,341,777
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                             13,821,744
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       123,483,065
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.61
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   1.52
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           3.71
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              1.02
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                          .97
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                .0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.85
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   .112
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                     103,659,107
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                              8.40
        

</TABLE>