Description of business and summary of significant accounting policies

Description of business –Brownie’s Marine Group, Inc., (hereinafter referred to as the “Company,” “our” or “BWMG”) designs, tests, manufactures and distributes recreational hookah diving, yacht based scuba air compressor and nitrox generation systems, and scuba and water safety products through its wholly owned subsidiary Trebor Industries, Inc. The Company sells its products both on a wholesale and retail basis, and does so from its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Pompano Beach, Florida. The Company does business as (dba) Brownie’s Third Lung, the dba name of Trebor Industries, Inc. The Company’s common stock is quoted on the OTC Markets (Pink) under the symbol “BWMG”.

Basis of Presentation – The financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In the opinion of management all normal recurring adjustments considered necessary to give a fair presentation of operating results for the periods presented have been included.

Definition of fiscal year – The Company’s fiscal year end is December 31.

Use of estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and equivalents – Only highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less are classified as cash and equivalents. These investments are stated at cost, which approximates market value.

Going Concern –The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business for the twelve-month period following the date of these financial statements. Although profitable for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, we have otherwise incurred losses since 2009. We have had a working capital deficit since 2009.

The Company is behind on payments due for matured convertible debentures, related parties notes payable, accrued liabilities and interest – related parties, and certain vendor payables. The Company is handling delinquencies on a case by case basis. However, there can be no assurance that cooperation the Company has received thus far will continue.

Because the Company does not expect that existing operational cash flow will be sufficient to fund presently anticipated operations, this raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Therefore, the Company will need to raise additional funds and is currently exploring alternative sources of financing. The Company has issued a number of convertible debentures as an interim measure to finance working capital needs and may continue to raise additional capital through sale of restricted common stock or other securities, and obtaining some short term loans. The Company has, in the past, paid for legal and consulting services with restricted stock to maximize working capital, and intends to continue this practice where feasible. In addition, the Company continues to explore additional cost saving measures.

If BWMG fails to raise additional funds when needed, or does not have sufficient cash flows from sales, it may be required to scale back or cease operations, liquidate assets and possibly seek bankruptcy protection. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of these uncertainties.

Accounts receivable – Accounts receivable consist of amounts due from the sale of all of our products to wholesale and retail customers. The allowance for doubtful accounts are estimated based on historical customer experience and industry knowledge.

Inventory – Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or fair market value. Cost is principally determined by using the average cost method that approximates the First-In, First-Out (FIFO) method of accounting for inventory. Inventory consists of raw materials as well as finished goods held for sale. The Company’s management monitors the inventory for excess and obsolete items and makes necessary valuation adjustments when indicated.

Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements– Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment and Leasehold Improvement is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation or amortization. Depreciation and amortization is provided principally on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are primarily 3 to 5 years. The cost of repairs and maintenance is charged to expense as incurred. Expenditures for property betterments and renewals are capitalized. Upon sale or other disposition of a depreciable asset, cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in other income (expense).

The Company periodically evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that may warrant revision of the estimated useful lives of fixed assets or whether the remaining balance of fixed assets should be evaluated for possible impairment. The Company uses an estimate of the related undiscounted cash flows over the remaining life of the fixed assets in measuring their recoverability.

Revenue recognition – Revenues from product sales are recognized when the Company’s products are shipped or when service is rendered. Revenues from fixed-price contracts are recognized on the percentage-of-completion method, measured by the percentage of cost incurred to date to estimated total cost of each contract. This method is used because management considers the percentage of cost incurred to date to estimated total cost to be the best available measure of progress on the contracts.

Contract costs include all direct material and labor costs and those indirect costs related to contract performance, such as indirect labor, supplies, tools, repairs, and depreciation costs. General and administrative costs are charged to expense as incurred. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses are determined. Change in job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability may result in revisions to costs and income and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined. Revenue and costs incurred for time and material projects are recognized as the work is performed.

Product development costs – Product development expenditures are charged to expenses as incurred.

Advertising and marketing costs – The Company expenses the costs of producing advertisements and marketing material at the time production occurs, and expenses the costs of communicating advertisements and participating in trade shows in the period in which occur. Advertising and trade show expense incurred for the years ended December 31, 2015, and 2014, totaled $8,497 and $3,686, respectively.

Customer deposits and returns policy – The Company typically takes a minimum 50% deposit against custom and large tankfill systems prior to ordering and/or building the systems. The remaining balance due is payable upon delivery, shipment, or installation of the system. There is no provision for cancellation of custom orders once the deposit is accepted, nor return of the custom ordered product. Additionally, returns of all other merchandise are subject to a 15% restocking fee as stated on each sales invoice.

Income taxes – The Company accounts for its income taxes under the assets and liabilities method, which requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company records net deferred tax assets to the extent the Company believes these assets will more likely than not be realized. In making such determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent financial operations. A valuation allowance is established against deferred tax assets that do not meet the criteria for recognition. In the event the Company were to determine that it would be able to realize deferred income tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, they would make an adjustment to the valuation allowance which would reduce the provision for income taxes.

The Company follows the accounting guidance which provides that a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits. Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date to be recognized initially and in subsequent periods. Also included is guidance on measurement, derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.

Comprehensive income – The Company has no components of other comprehensive income. Accordingly, net income equals comprehensive income for all periods presented.

Stock-based compensation – The Company accounts for all compensation related to stock, options or warrants using a fair value based method whereby compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized over the service period, which is usually the vesting period. The Company uses the Black-Scholes valuation model to calculate the fair value of options and warrants issued to both employees and non-employees. Stock issued for compensation is valued on the effective date of the agreement in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, which includes determination of the fair value of the share-based transaction. The fair value is determined through use of the quoted stock price.

For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company compensated and/or converted all accrued payroll to stock for one related party employee totaling $54,000 and $54,000, respectively.

Beneficial conversion features on convertible debentures – The fair value of the stock upon which to base the beneficial conversion feature (BCF) computation has been determined through use of the quoted stock price.

Fair value of financial instruments – Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. An entity is required to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.

Inputs are used in applying the various valuation techniques and broadly refer to the assumptions that market participants use to make valuation decisions, including assumptions about risk. An investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. However, the determination of what constitutes “observable” requires significant judgment by the Company. Management considers observable data to be market data which is readily available, regularly distributed or updated, reliable and verifiable, not proprietary, provided by multiple, independent sources that are actively involved in the relevant market. The categorization of an investment within the hierarchy is based upon the pricing transparency of the investment and does not necessarily correspond to the Company’s perceived risk of that investment.

At December 31, 2015, and 2014, the carrying amount of cash, accounts receivable, accounts receivable – related parties, customer deposits and unearned revenue, royalties payable – related parties, other liabilities, other liabilities and accrued interest – related parties, notes payable, notes payable – related parties, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.

Earnings per common share – Basic earnings per share excludes any dilutive effects of options, warrants and convertible securities. Basic earnings per share is computed using the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares during the applicable period. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common and dilutive common stock equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Common stock equivalent shares are excluded from the computation if their effect is antidilutive. Potentially dilutive shares included in dilutive earnings per share totaled 44,837,540 and 45,905,784 at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. These shares reflect shares potentially issuable under convertable note agreements during the periods and 195,610 shares payable to a related party at both December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

New accounting pronouncements –

In July 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330), Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. ASU No. 2015-11 does not apply to inventory measurement using the last-in, last-out (LIFO) or retail methods. ASU No. 2015-11 applies to all other inventory measurement methods, which includes first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost. Previously, inventory valuation was at the lower of cost or fair market value. This ASU changes the valuation to lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of the business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. ASU 2015-11 should be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted. The Company opted for early adoption of ASU 2015-11 this period with no impact to financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. The Company updated its consolidated financial statements to reflect inventory valuation at the lower of cost or net realizable value.

In August 2014, the Financial Accounting and Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements Going Concern (Subtopic 205-206): Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The ASU requires an entity’s management to assess its ability to continue as going concern by incorporating and expanding upon certain principles that are currently in U.S. auditing standards. This includes (1) providing a definition of the term substantial doubt, (2) requiring an evaluation every reporting period including interim periods, (3) providing principles for considering then mitigating effect of management’s plans, (4) requiring certain disclosures when substantial doubt is alleviated as a result of consideration of management’s plans, (5) requiring an express statement and other disclosures when substantial doubt is not alleviated, and (6) requiring an assessment for a period of one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued). The ASU is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter with early adoption permitted. The Company elected early adoption for the year ended December 31, 2014, with insignificant impact to both its current process for evaluating ability to continue as going concern and to its existing disclosures.

The Company believes there was no other new accounting guidance adopted, but not yet effective that either has not already been disclosed in prior reporting periods or is relevant to the readers of our financial statements.