Why does Fishbowl say "Cannot distribute a negative cost."?

You're trying to distribute a negative cost, which Fishbowl doesn't allow. Check whether the cost value you entered is negative, or whether you should use a different procedure for cost credits or adjustments.

Fishbowl: "Cannot distribute a negative cost"

What it means

Fishbowl blocked a cost distribution because the value is negative. This usually means either you entered a negative number (with a minus sign), or a formula or calculation produced a negative result. Manufacturing orders don’t allow negative distributions in this operation.

What to check

Look at the cost amount you’re trying to distribute—is it showing as negative?
If you’re trying to reverse, credit, or refund a cost, verify that the distribute function is the right approach. Fishbowl may have a separate adjustment, credit, or reversal procedure designed for negative adjustments.
If a formula produced the negative value, check the formula for data entry or calculation errors.