<PAGE>   1
                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                   FORM 10-K/A
                                 AMENDMENT NO. 1

[X]      ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE          
         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                                    For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997
                                       or
[ ]      TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE 
         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                    For the transition period from_______________to_____________

                          Commission file number 0-8568

                                  BESTWAY, INC.
              ----------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         Delaware                                               81-0332743
 ------------------------------                              ---------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                             (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                             Identification No.)


  7800 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 320, Dallas, Texas                75247
  -----------------------------------------------             ----------
    (Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code          (214) 630-6655
                                                   ----------------------------

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                                      Name of each exchange on
         Title of each class                            which registered
         -------------------                          -------------------------
              (None)                                         (None)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                   Common Stock, $.01 par value
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       (Title of Class)
         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes   X   No 
                                              -----    -----
         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

         The number of shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, outstanding at
July 31, 1997, was 1,749,967.

         Bestway, Inc. (the "Company") hereby files this Form 10-K/A to amend
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 (the
"1997 10-K") filed on October 23, 1997 with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") to add the information required by Part III (Items
10,11,12 and 13) rather than to incorporate such information by reference in the
1997 10-K from the Company's definitive proxy statement for its 1997 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders as the Company had originally intended. 

<PAGE>   2

BESTWAY, INC.                                                        FORM 10-K/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Part III of the 1997 10-K is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety 
with the following (All capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein
shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the 1997 10-K): 

                                    PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

         The name, age and positions of each of the directors and executive
officers of the Company are listed below.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

     Name                Age                              Position
-------------------      ---     --------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>     <C>                                                                 
Jack E. Meyer            54      Director and Member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

James A. O'Donnell       45      Director and Member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

R. Brooks Reed           56      Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

Teresa A. Sheffield      37      President and Chief Operating Officer

Beth A. Durrett          40      Senior Vice President - Finance

Joe R. McElroy           40      Vice President - Real Estate
</TABLE>


         Mr. Meyer has served as a director of the Company since 1980.  Mr. 
Meyer is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Urologix, Inc. From
March 1993 to January 1994 he was President and Chief Executive Officer for
Fiberoptic Sensor Technologies. Mr. Meyer has served as a director for Urologix,
Inc. since 1994.

         Mr. O'Donnell has served as a director of the Company since 1987. Mr.
O'Donnell is currently a partner with the private equity firm of Cravey, Green &
Wahlen and since 1987 has been a general partner of O'Donnell and Masur, LP, a
venture capital investment firm which is a significant stockholder and debt
holder of the Company.

         Mr. Reed has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief 
Executive Officer of the Company since 1979. From 1983 to May 1997, Mr. Reed
served as President of the Company. Mr. Reed is also a principal of Phoenix
Partners, Inc., a private investment company engaged in the acquisition and
operation of medium-sized businesses in a variety of industries.

         Ms. Sheffield has served as President and Chief Operating Officer 
since  May 1997. From July 1992 to May 1997, Ms. Sheffield served as Vice
President - Operations. From February 1988 to July 1992, Ms. Sheffield served in
various capacities with the Company.

         Ms. Durrett has served as Senior Vice President - Finance of the 
Company since May 1997. From 1987 to May 1997, Ms. Durrett served as Vice
President - Controller and was appointed Secretary in 1991. Ms. Durrett has
served in various capacities with the Company since September 1979.

<PAGE>   3
BESTWAY, INC.                                                        FORM 10-K/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, Continued

         Mr. McElroy has served as Vice President - Real Estate since May 1997.
From January 1996 to May 1997, Mr. McElroy served as Director - Real Estate.
Prior to joining the Company, Mr. McElroy was Director of Real Estate for
Drinkard Development, Inc.

COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the
Company's executive officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own
more than 10% of the Company's Common Stock to file reports of ownership and
changes in ownership with the Commission. Executive officers, directors and
greater than 10% beneficial owners are required by Commission regulations to
furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based
solely on a review of the copies of such forms received by the Company and
written representations from certain reporting persons that no other reports
were required for those persons, the Company believes that all Section 16(a)
filing requirements applicable to its executive officers, directors and greater
than 10% beneficial owners were complied with during the fiscal year ended July
31, 1997.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

         The following Summary Compensation Table shows all cash and other
compensation paid (or to be paid) by the Company for the fiscal years ended July
31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and highest
compensated executive officer for services rendered in all capacities in which
they served during each period whose total annual salary and bonus exceeded
$100,000 in the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         Long -Term
                                                                                        Compensation
                                                            Annual Compensation            Awards
                                                         ----------------------         ------------
                                                                                         Restricted
            Name and                         Fiscal      Salary          Bonus             Stock
       Principal Position                      Year        ($)            ($)             Awards($)
       ------------------                      ----      --------      --------           --------
<S>                                            <C>       <C>           <C>                <C>
R. Brooks Reed, Chairman  and Chief            1997      $150,000            --                 --
Executive Officer                              1996      $150,000            --                 --
                                               1995      $150,000      $37,111 (1)              --
Teresa A. Sheffield,                           1997      $116,307      $ 19,542                 --
President and Chief Operating Officer          1996      $ 85,346      $ 30,376                 --
                                               1995      $ 71,615      $ 29,327                 --
</TABLE>


(1)      This amount represents the tax liability paid by the Company relating
         to the restricted stock awarded by the Company to Mr. Reed in 1993 in
         the amount of 109,658 shares of the Company's Common Stock in
         connection with the restructuring of the Company.
<PAGE>   4
BESTWAY, INC.                                                        FORM 10-K/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION, Continued

OPTION GRANTS TABLE

         The following table shows all options granted by the Company for the
fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 to the Company's highest compensated executive
officers listed above: (i) the number of shares covered by such options; (ii)
the percent that such options represented of total options granted to all the
Company's employees during the 1997 fiscal year; (iii) the exercise price, and
(iv) the expiration date.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          Percent of
                                         Total Options
                                          Granted to
                                         Employees in     Exercise
                             Options         1997         Price Per      Expiration
       Name                  Granted      Fiscal Year       Share           Date
-------------------          -------     ------------     ---------       ---------       
<S>                           <C>         <C>              <C>            <C>
R. Brooks Reed                  --             --             --             --
Teresa A. Sheffield             --             --             --             --
</TABLE>


AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION 
VALUES

         The following table shows for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 to
the Company's highest compensated executive officers listed above: (i) the
number of shares of the Company's Common Stock acquired upon exercise of options
during fiscal year 1997; (ii) the aggregate dollar value realized upon exercise;
(iii) the total number of unexercised options held at the end of fiscal year
1997; and (iv) the aggregate dollar value of in-the-money unexercised options
held at the end of fiscal year 1997.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      Number of Unexercised              Value of Unexercised
                                                      Options at 1997 Fiscal            In-the-Money Options at
                           Shares          Value             Year End                  1997 Fiscal Year End  (2)
                         Acquired on      Realized   ----------------------------    -----------------------------
      Name               Exercise (#)       ($)      Exercisable    Unexercisable    Exercisable     Unexercisable
      ----               ------------       ---      -----------    -------------    -----------     -------------
<S>                      <C>               <C>        <C>            <C>              <C>             <C>
R. Brooks Reed                 --            --               --               --             --                --
Teresa A. Sheffield            --            --           30,400           30,400        $45,600           $45,600
</TABLE>


(2) Market value of underlying securities at year-end minus the exercise price.

RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN PROGRAM - 401(K) PLAN

         The Company established a Retirement Savings Plan (the "Savings Plan")
effective as of September 1, 1994 which is intended to qualify under Section
401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code").  Employees who have
been employed with the Company for one year or more are eligible for
participation in the Savings Plan. Pursuant to the Savings Plan, employees may
elect to reduce their current compensation by up to 15% (subject to certain
limitations under the Code) and have the amount of such reduction contributed to
the Savings
<PAGE>   5
BESTWAY, INC.                                                        FORM 10-K/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION, Continued

Plan. The Savings Plan permits, but does not require, additional or matching
contributions to the Savings Plan by the Company on behalf of all participants
in the Savings Plan. The Company has made no additional or matching
contributions to the Savings Plan. The Board of Directors of the Company intends
to conduct a review at the end of each fiscal year to determine whether the
Company will make any additional or matching contributions to the Savings Plan.
All assets of the Savings Plan are held in trust at all times.

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

         The Company's policy is to reimburse its directors for travel, lodging
and related expenses incurred on account of attendance at meetings of the Board
of Directors and committees thereof. For their participation in special meetings
of the Board convened by conference telephone call, for services in relation to
any matters adopted by the unanimous written consent of the directors, and for
all the various services rendered, directors, other than those who are employees
or consultants of the Company, receive an annual retainer of $1,200.
Additionally, each director, other than those who are officers or employees of
the Company, receive $500 for each meeting attended. In order to conserve cash,
no fees have been paid in cash to any director since 1988 and from 1984 through
1988, directors received Common Stock of the Company in lieu of fees.
Furthermore, in connection with the 1993 restructuring of the Company, Messrs.
R. Brooks Reed and Jack E. Meyer received 109,658 and 13,271 shares,
respectively, of the Company's Common Stock. The purpose of granting stock to
Messrs. Reed and Meyer was to prevent dilution of their respective ownership
positions in the Company, to provide an incentive to them to build stockholder
value following the restructuring and to compensate them for past service to the
Company, including, but not limited to, their waiver of directors fees and
service as directors without compensation since 1988.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

         Decisions regarding the compensation of the executive officers of the 
Company are made by the Board of Directors. In fiscal year 1997, decisions
concerning the compensation of Ms. Beth A. Durrett and Ms. Teresa A. Sheffield
were made by the entire Board of Directors and decisions concerning the
compensation of Mr. R. Brooks Reed were made by Mr. Jack E. Meyer and Mr. James
A. O'Donnell.

ITEM 12.          SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

         The following table sets forth certain information as of November 11,
1997, obtained from information furnished by the persons named below, concerning
the beneficial stock ownership of each person known to the Company who may be
deemed to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the Company's
Common Stock, each director of the Company and all directors and executive
officers of the Company as a group. The Company has no other class of equity
securities outstanding other then its Common Stock.

<PAGE>   6
BESTWAY, INC.                                                        FORM 10-K/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM 12.          SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND 
                  MANAGEMENT, Continued


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND ADDRESS                        AMOUNT AND NATURE OF           PERCENT
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                     BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP (1)       OF CLASS
-------------------                     --------------------           --------
<S>                                             <C>                     <C>  
O'Donnell & Masur, LP ("O&M")                   981,872                 56.2%
5949 Sherry Lane, Suite 1450
Dallas, Texas 75225

James A. O'Donnell (2)                          983,872                 56.3%
5949 Sherry Lane, Suite 1450
Dallas, Texas 75225

Mark Masur (3)                                  981,952                 56.2%
5949 Sherry Lane, Suite 1450
Dallas, Texas 75225

R. Brooks Reed (4)                               58,873                  3.4%
7800 Stemmons, Suite 320
Dallas, Texas 75247

Jack E. Meyer                                    16,203                   .9%
7800 Stemmons, Suite 320
Dallas, Texas 75247

All directors and executive officers          1,088,103                 62.2%
as a group (6 persons)

Robert D. Simons                                 92,517                  5.3%
317 Coinbow Drive
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina 29464
</TABLE>


(1)      Except as noted, beneficial ownership consists of sole voting and
         investment power. The inclusion of shares that may be deemed
         beneficially owned herein, however, does not constitute an admission
         that the named stockholders are direct or indirect beneficial owners of
         such shares.

(2)      Mr. O'Donnell has sole voting power and sole investment power with
         respect to 2,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company that he owns
         directly. Mr. O'Donnell by virtue of his being a general partner of O&M
         may be deemed, for purposes of determining beneficial ownership
         pursuant to Rule 13d-3, to own beneficially the 981,872 shares of
         Common Stock owned by O&M.


<PAGE>   7


BESTWAY, INC.                                                       FORM 10-K/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM 12.          SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND 
                  MANAGEMENT, Continued

(3)      Mr. Masur has sole voting power and sole investment power with respect
         to 80 shares of Common Stock of the Company that he owns directly. Mr.
         Masur by virtue of his being a general partner of O&M may be deemed,
         for purposes of determining beneficial ownership pursuant to Rule
         13d-3, to own beneficially the 981,872 shares of Common Stock owned by
         O&M.

(4)      Excludes a total of 71,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company owned
         by Mr. Reed's spouse and adult children which Mr. Reed may be deemed
         beneficially to own.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

         The Company is indebted to O&M in the principal amount of $3,000,000.
One of the Company's directors, James A. O'Donnell, is a general partner in O&M.


<PAGE>   8

BESTWAY, INC.                                                       FORM 10-K/A
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                  SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Form 10-K/A to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on this 13th
day of November, 1997.


                                  BESTWAY, INC.



                                  /s/ Beth A. Durrett
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Beth A. Durrett
                                  Senior Vice President - Finance
                                  (Duly authorized representative and
                                  principal financial officer)