<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, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      483,417,884
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     494,199,560
<RECEIVABLES>                                4,483,640
<ASSETS-OTHER>                              10,553,199
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             509,236,399
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                    214,250,000
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                   13,017,488
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                        227,267,488
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                            250,408,483
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                             0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                0
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       12,343,567
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                   17,574,015
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      3,204,737
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    10,781,676
<NET-ASSETS>                               281,968,911
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                           41,297,190
<OTHER-INCOME>                              10,748,520
<EXPENSES-NET>                              19,011,878
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     33,033,832
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                    10,722,158
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   (1,611,657)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       41,306,158
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                   16,977,374
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                    12,867,637
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      6,438,172
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                     32,080
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                      1,517,560
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    5,813,208
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           9,796,759
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                             19,011,878
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       220,294,713
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             6.43
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   1.05
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           2.55
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                               .55
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                          .41
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                .0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               9.07
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   .086
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                     167,554,106
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                              5.39


</TABLE>