OVERVIEW	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2023
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
OVERVIEW	NOTE 1 OVERVIEW Business Forward Industries, Inc. (“Forward”, “we”, “our” or the “Company”) is a global design, sourcing and distribution company serving top tier medical and technology customers worldwide. In July 2023, the Company decided to cease its retail distribution operations (“Retail Exit”). The Retail Exit will have no effect on the operations of the Company’s other segments. The Company is working on a plan that will ensure the Retail Exit is made in an orderly manner while also satisfying existing customer obligations. At the time of this filing, the Company does not know the extent, or a range, of the costs that it will incur as a result of the exit. Liquidity For the nine months ended June 30, 2023, the Company generated a net loss of $1,838,000 and $562,000 of cash flows from operating activities. Based on our forecasted cash flows, we believe our existing cash balance and working capital will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs through at least August 31, 2024. At June 30, 2023, the Company had $1,300,000 of borrowing available under its line of credit with a bank that was renewed in March 2023 and has a maturity date of May 31, 2024 (see Note 10). Considering the loss of a significant Original Equipment Manufacturing (“OEM”) distribution segment customer (see Note 5), management reduced its OEM distribution segment sales and marketing personnel in March 2023 and is currently assessing the terms of its sourcing agreement with Forward Industries Asia-Pacific Corporation (“Forward China”), which is scheduled to expire on October 22, 2023 (see Note 8). Effective April 1, 2023, the Company and Forward China agreed to reduce the fixed portion of the sourcing fee from $100,000 to $83,333 per month for the remaining term of the agreement, which resulted in cash savings of $50,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and is expected to result in cash savings of $50,000 for the remainder of the 2023 fiscal year. The Company and Forward China have begun negotiations on a new sourcing agreement. In light of the Retail Exit, the Company plans to discuss a further reduction in the sourcing fee commensurate with the services provided. While we believe a new agreement will be reached, we cannot provide any assurances that we will be successful. If an agreement cannot be reached, which could have a significant impact on the Company’s operations, we will look at other alternatives for our OEM distribution business prior to the expiration of the agreement. Management is planning to further evaluate the OEM distribution segment cost structure and implement additional cost cutting initiatives as deemed necessary. Impact of COVID-19 The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to impact our business with high capitalized inventory costs for inbound ocean freight, particularly from the Asia-Pacific region, and expenses associated with outbound ground transportation. We expect to see the benefits of declining ocean freight costs in future periods. Inflation, in part associated with the pandemic, continues to increase the cost of acquiring and retaining our employees and acquiring inventory. The instability of transportation costs and future inflation are still largely unknown but are expected to continue throughout fiscal 2023. The effects of COVID-19 may further impact our business in ways we cannot predict, and such impacts could be significant. The current economic conditions may continue to negatively impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial position in future periods as well as that of our customers, including their ability to pay for our services and to choose to allocate their budgets to new or existing projects which may or may not require our services. The long-term financial impact on our business cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. As a result, the effects of COVID-19 may not be fully reflected in our financial results until future periods. Until the effects of the pandemic and associated inflationary impact have fully receded, we expect business conditions to remain challenging. In response to these challenges, we will continue to focus on those factors that we can control: closely managing and controlling our expenses; aligning our design and development schedules with demand in a proactive manner to minimize our cash operating costs; pursuing further improvements in the productivity and effectiveness of our development, selling and administrative activities and, where appropriate, taking advantage of opportunities to enhance our business growth and strategy.

OVERVIEW

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

NOTE 1 OVERVIEW

Business

Forward Industries, Inc. (“Forward”, “we”, “our” or the “Company”) is a global design, sourcing and distribution company serving top tier medical and technology customers worldwide.

In July 2023, the Company decided to cease its retail distribution operations (“Retail Exit”). The Retail Exit will have no effect on the operations of the Company’s other segments. The Company is working on a plan that will ensure the Retail Exit is made in an orderly manner while also satisfying existing customer obligations. At the time of this filing, the Company does not know the extent, or a range, of the costs that it will incur as a result of the exit.

Liquidity

For the nine months ended June 30, 2023, the Company generated a net loss of $1,838,000 and $562,000 of cash flows from operating activities. Based on our forecasted cash flows, we believe our existing cash balance and working capital will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs through at least August 31, 2024. At June 30, 2023, the Company had $1,300,000 of borrowing available under its line of credit with a bank that was renewed in March 2023 and has a maturity date of May 31, 2024 (see Note 10). Considering the loss of a significant Original Equipment Manufacturing (“OEM”) distribution segment customer (see Note 5), management reduced its OEM distribution segment sales and marketing personnel in March 2023 and is currently assessing the terms of its sourcing agreement with Forward Industries Asia-Pacific Corporation (“Forward China”), which is scheduled to expire on October 22, 2023 (see Note 8). Effective April 1, 2023, the Company and Forward China agreed to reduce the fixed portion of the sourcing fee from $100,000 to $83,333 per month for the remaining term of the agreement, which resulted in cash savings of $50,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and is expected to result in cash savings of $50,000 for the remainder of the 2023 fiscal year. The Company and Forward China have begun negotiations on a new sourcing agreement. In light of the Retail Exit, the Company plans to discuss a further reduction in the sourcing fee commensurate with the services provided. While we believe a new agreement will be reached, we cannot provide any assurances that we will be successful. If an agreement cannot be reached, which could have a significant impact on the Company’s operations, we will look at other alternatives for our OEM distribution business prior to the expiration of the agreement. Management is planning to further evaluate the OEM distribution segment cost structure and implement additional cost cutting initiatives as deemed necessary.

Impact of COVID-19

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to impact our business with high capitalized inventory costs for inbound ocean freight, particularly from the Asia-Pacific region, and expenses associated with outbound ground transportation. We expect to see the benefits of declining ocean freight costs in future periods. Inflation, in part associated with the pandemic, continues to increase the cost of acquiring and retaining our employees and acquiring inventory. The instability of transportation costs and future inflation are still largely unknown but are expected to continue throughout fiscal 2023.

The effects of COVID-19 may further impact our business in ways we cannot predict, and such impacts could be significant. The current economic conditions may continue to negatively impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial position in future periods as well as that of our customers, including their ability to pay for our services and to choose to allocate their budgets to new or existing projects which may or may not require our services. The long-term financial impact on our business cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. As a result, the effects of COVID-19 may not be fully reflected in our financial results until future periods.

Until the effects of the pandemic and associated inflationary impact have fully receded, we expect business conditions to remain challenging. In response to these challenges, we will continue to focus on those factors that we can control: closely managing and controlling our expenses; aligning our design and development schedules with demand in a proactive manner to minimize our cash operating costs; pursuing further improvements in the productivity and effectiveness of our development, selling and administrative activities and, where appropriate, taking advantage of opportunities to enhance our business growth and strategy.