to ask "permission" from friend to start up similar business?

[RentANDBills]

A close friend of mine has recently, with my help, set up a cake making business. We came up with the name together, I gave her loads of business advice, hosted (and paid for ingredients for) a big baking day and took photographs for her website. She seems to be doing well (it's alongside her FT job) and I'm really pleased for her.

I love baking and business, and live about 150 miles away from her now. I've recently got back into making heavily decorated cupcakes and had a few offers to buy them from friends of friends.
I know all of the business stuff (from a previous catering business effort) and its something that I basically do anyway, so I could slot it into my life easily. I live in a very affulent area so could make some healthy sales.

But the business would basically be the same as close friend's. We are completely seperate areas (London vs Midlands) so I wouldn't be intruding on her territory, but I feel honour bound to ask if she's okay with me setting up, particularly so soon after she has.

We have a few mutual friends who would probably "like" both social media pages but other than that there wouldn't be any crossover.

I know that she has no grounds to stop me from setting up, nor would it affect her but I feel a bit weird about it. I feel like the polite thing to do would be to discuss it, but also worry that I'd be making a "thing" out of it by making a point of talking about it too.

AIBU to "ask" her?
WIBU to just set up without discussing it first, or is she likely to be a bit about it?
I don't want her to think I'm stealing her thunder.

The country is full of home cake making businesses.

I agree. There are loads around here.

Can't see he issue, other than you may have a lot of local competition.

I think she'd be happy to hear her friend is doing the same as her. You can trade recipes or techniques, whinge about customers together, and I really can't see any reason why she'd be annoyed! You aren't even competitors. I've helped someone set up a similar business to my own and we are competitors for the most part. Unless it's something really niche, there's usually enough custom to go around.

There is no need at all to ask permission, especially given that you live so far apart. You just need to say that seeing her set her business has inspired you. If I were your friend I would see only the positives. Running your own small business can be a struggle and it would be great to have a friend (who is not a competitor) to share ideas with, discuss techniques and have the odd moan about the crazy demands of your customers.

Good luck with you new buisness.

Any chance of you going into business together in your different areas - i.e. sharing some overheads? Or is that just complicating things?

asking for her complete business plan obviously I'm not, but interested in the thread!

Copy and Paste fail - I meant:

Hang on, wasn't there a thread, literally about 2 days ago from a woman with a cake business who's friend who she trained had set up in direct competition with her? I'm not, but interested in the thread!

I can't find it.

I properly looked as well.

Went back 10 pages, I don't think I commented so it won't be in Threads I'm On

She was lending equipment. I did an advanced search too.

Any chance of you going into business together in your different areas - i.e. sharing some overheads? I like the idea but I'm not sure there really would be any overheads. Aside from sharing a website and name - so having a London branch and a Midlands branch. But I think that would probably get complicated re: tax.

I'm feeling a bit better about it, I think I just need to toughen up and be casual about it!

Everysong - I remember that thread as well.

Something slightly weird here.......

EverySongbirdSays I immediately thought the same! Were they on the same patch though?

Found it...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2761510-Ive-been-a-fool-havent-I

Well done Crumbs! You literally beat me by two seconds - I'd just pressed copy on the link! I'd been searching AIBU, but it was Chat!

That's not me, I promise!

Just tell her that helping her to set up her business has inspired you to start one up yourself, and that you will of course give a glowing recommendation of her business to any of your customers with family in her area.
She can't really argue with that..

Well, at least you know what her direct point of view might be without having to ask.

Yes, it might piss her off.

But two different geographical areas suggests no real competition, it might need delicate phrasing though.