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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Accounting Policies [Abstract] 
Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]
1. 
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Description of business –Brownie’s Marine Group, Inc., (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”, “We”,  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 Fort Lauderdale, 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 OTCBB under the symbol “BWMG”.
 
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.
 
Reclassifications – Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2010 financial statement amounts to conform to the 2011 financial statement presentation.
 
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.   We have incurred losses since 2009, and expect to have losses through 2011.  We have had a working capital deficit since 2009.  Although cured effective the fourth quarter 2010, the Company defaulted on its first mortgage in the third quarter of 2010, which resulted in an automatic default on its second mortgage further discussed in Note. 9.  NOTES PAYABLE.
 
In addition, the Company is behind on payments due for accrued payroll taxes and withholding, matured convertible debentures, related party notes payable, accrued liabilities and interest –related parties, a note payable due an unrelated party, and certain vendor payables.  While the Company has received no formal notices of default and is working out these matters on a case by case basis, there can be no assurance that cooperation the Company has received thus far will continue.  Payment delinquencies are further addressed in Note 6. RELATED PARTIES TRANSACTIONS, Note 7. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES, Note 8. OTHER LIABILITIES, Note 9. NOTES PAYABLE, and Note 10.  CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES.
 
During the third quarter of 2010, the Company settled several lawsuits for infringement of one of the Company’s patents.  The settlement was in the form of cash and inventory credits, and the Company was granted exclusive distributor rights in the United States of the products of the settling parties, as well as non-exclusive distributor rights for others as further discussed in Note 15. PATENT INFRINGEMENT SETTLEMENTS.   In addition, the Company introduced some of its own new products to market in mid 2010, including the variable speed electric and battery powered diving units.  We believe the combined addition of these products to complement the sales of our other products will allow us to generate enough sales to supply us with sufficient working capital in the future.  However, the Company does not expect that existing cash flow will be sufficient to fund presently anticipated operations beyond the fourth quarter of 2011.  This raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We will need to raise additional funds and are currently exploring alternative sources of financing.  We have issued a number of convertible debentures as an interim measure to finance our working capital needs as discussed in Note 10.  CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES and may continue to raise additional capital through sale of restricted common stock or other securities.   We have implemented some cost saving measures and will continue to explore more to reduce operating expenses.
  
Going Concern (continued) – If we fail to raise additional funds when needed, or do not have sufficient cash flows from sales, we may be required to scale back or cease operations, liquidate our assets and possibly seek bankruptcy protection. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
 
Inventory – Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market.  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 required.
 
Property, Plant, and Equipment – Property, Plant and Equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided principally on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are primarily 3 to 5 years  except for the building that is being depreciated over a life of 39 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 three months  ended September 30, 2011, and 2010, was $28,509 and $8,194, respectively.  Advertising and trade show expense incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, and 2010, was $42,981 and $9,802, respectively.
 
Customer deposits and return policy – The Company 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.
 
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 has been determined either through use of the quoted stock price unless the trading activity is nominal, which may indicate it does not represent the fair value.   Under these circumstances, the Company determines fair value through an analysis of its fair value of net assets and comparable publicly traded companies that have higher trading volumes with similar results of operations and industries. 
 
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company amortized prepaid stock based compensation associated with stock options granted October 1 and December 1, 2009.  See Note 12. EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN for further discussion.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recorded stock based compensation associated with warrants granted on December 31, 2009.  See Note 11. STOCK WARRANTS FOR LEGAL SERVICES for further discussion.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the company granted stock for consulting services.  See Note 13.  STOCK ISSUED FOR CONSULTING SERVICES.
 
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 either through use of the quoted stock price unless the trading activity is nominal, which may indicate it does not represent the fair value.   Under these circumstances, the Company determines fair value through an analysis of its fair value of net assets and comparable publicly traded companies that have higher trading volumes with similar results of operations and industries.  See Note10.  CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES for further discussion.
   
Fair value of financial instruments – The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature.
 
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 common stock equivalent shares outstanding during the period.  Common stock equivalent shares are excluded from the computation if their effect is antidilutive.  All common stock equivalent shares were excluded in the computation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, and 2010, since their effect was antidilutive.
 
New accounting pronouncements –  In January 2011, the FASB released Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-01 (“ASU 2011-01”), Receivables (Topic 310): Deferral of the Effective Date of Disclosures about Troubled Debt Restructurings in Update No. 2010-20, which deferred the disclosure requirements surrounding troubled debt restructurings. These disclosures are effective for reporting periods ending on or after June 15, 2011. We do not expect the disclosure requirements to have a material impact on our current disclosures.
 
In April 2011, the FASB released Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-02 (“ASU 2011-02”), Receivables (Topic 310): A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring is a Troubled Debt Restructuring. ASU 2011-02 clarifies the guidance for determining whether a restructuring constitutes a troubled debt restructuring. In evaluating whether a restructuring constitutes a troubled debt restructuring, a creditor must conclude that 1) the restructuring constitutes a concession and 2) the debtor is experiencing financial difficulties. ASU 2011-02 also requires companies to disclose the troubled debt restructuring disclosures that were deferred by ASU 2011-01. The guidance in ASU 2011-02 is effective for public companies in the first reporting period ending on or after June 15, 2011, but the amendment must be applied retrospectively to the beginning of the annual period of adoption. ASU 2011-02 is not expected to materially impact our consolidated financial statements.