Can I trust a friend with money

[valuefriendship]

I operate a unique business model as a freelance online trader with over ten thousand followers. I sell items on behalf of a third party, earning a cut or a commission, and sometimes, I profit from the difference between the asking price and the selling price.
Recently, a close friend entrusted me with selling her business, setting a price of £20,000. I have the opportunity to add my profit to her asking price, a responsibility I take seriously and value greatly.
I posted the business for sale online for £35,000 and received an offer within the second day of posting. However, while the buyer did a company check before handing me a deposit, they somehow came across my friend's contact number. Subsequently, they purchased the company directly from my friend behind my back.
My friend refused to pay me any commission, claiming that the buyer had contacted her directly and that she had offered her company to the buyer long before I was appointed to sell her business. ( which was not the case )
I would appreciate it if anyone could advise if I have a case.

Sounds like the purchaser thought it was too expensive - because of your commission - contacted the owner direct and made a deal. So from that you didn't really do much.
Like when corner shops used to charge 25p to put an advert in the window.
Bet your ex friend thinks as much of you as you do of her

A contract doesn't have to be in writing to be legally binding ('my word is my bond' etc.), though it is obviously difficult to prove otherwise. What is a bit unusual in this case, though, is that your verbal agreement doesn't appear to have specified your cut (and if it didn't even do that, did it really give you exclusivity?). If a judge agreed that some kind of contract existed but with insufficient detail to support your claim in full, your costs, relevant expertise and contacts would be considered - if you simply posted an advert, did little in the way of preparing sales literature or advising the seller and found a buyer you didn't previously know, I think your chances of justifying 75% commission are slim. You may have a claim against the buyer, who (presumably?) breached a user agreement with you (though it can be difficult to enforce provisions against cutting an agent out of the deal - the prospect of souring an ongoing professional relationship keeps people honest, not the contract).

Unless you have a contract there's little you can do. Contract can be simple to represent Party A in the marketing, sale etc of Item B at a commission of £Xx or xx% and include remedy for sale elsewhere within a period of XX days commencing on signature..

I expect your friend is wondering whether she can trust you with money any more. She must have been quite taken aback to find out that you were hoping to keep £15k for yourself.

To be honest, I think you chanced your arm to make a large, quick profit and it’s backfired on you.

Unless you spent a shit load of money on ads or some kind of expensive listings over those 2 days to get that offer, you're not a good friend.

I have the opportunity to add my profit to her asking price, a responsibility I take seriously and value greatly

V important to be serious when screwing mates over

Tbh I cringed when I saw the mark up you put on for your 'commission'. Unless your working for two months solid on selling her business... how is that reasonable and could of put off buyers with an over inflated price 🙈🙈🙈.

Your friend was probably seething when she discovered this. Did they know this? If not there is no contract or legal standing; as they did not agree the fee. It sounds like you did five minutes of work; which tbh a long friendship surely would provide that for free and certainly wouldn't be looking a legal recourse? If it were me I would just be happy my friend has managed to sell her business; and required very little work from you and call it a favour 🙈🙈

If I were her I think I'd be calling time on our friendship 😥😥

Although contracts can indeed be verbal no actual terms were agreed. So your attempt to massively benefit from your friend's low sale price has backfired.

Christonabike, taking £15k commission on a £20k is HRT greedy and unscrupulous.
If this is true then I would advise anyone dealing with you to run.

Not if she won the case as she could claim the legal costs back from the losing party. It all boils down to whether she wants to take the risk.

But you stood to make almost the same profit as her. I would venture that a friend wouldn't do that.
I'd put it behind you.

Totally within the buyers rights to contact the seller directly.

the fact you were going to take 15k from your friend, but are now mad they ‘took’ that from you… well you aren’t emulating great friend here! Kinda closer to a scam.

She’s not your friend, friends don’t do this to each other, you have learned a valuable lesson