Do I need a TM30 from my friend in Pattaya before arriving, or can it be done on the day of arrival?

The office in my condo will do this for me for a small fee. Perhaps your friend's condo does the same, assuming they live in a condo.

To answer your question. The TM30 is required to filed next business day of your arrival. However, it's really only necessary if you plan to get an extension or if you get yourself in trouble such that immigration officials look at your paperwork.

MONEY

I had a crooked AirBnB “host” who didn’t give me a TM30. I needed an extension. I used a visa agent right next door to the IO in Jomtien. They sorted it all out. Very pleasant & efficient and cost 1,900 Baht on top of the 1,900 Baht cost of the 30 day extension. They made what could have been a stressful mess, very easy. Lots of private landlords are not fulfilling their obligation to give you a TM30😨

It is the HOUSEOWNERS responsability to do the report within 24 hours

Tm 30 has to be filed within in 24 hours.

If you stay somewhere and they do a tm30.

Then you stay somewhere else for a day and they don't do a tm 30 then you will be more than 24 hours reporting and be subject to a fine for late reporting

If you intend on doing the extension yourself, at the jomtien immigration office, you will need to file a TM30 within 24 hours of arrival, some people have reported that they have been fined, when they went to the immigration office in jomtien, to do an extension, and there wasn't a TM30 already on file, if want to make it easier for yourself, when you have 7 days or less on your current stamp, ( jomtien won't do it before that) just go to an agent and they will file a TM30, and do the 30 day tourism extension for you, it's usually around ฿4000 everything included.

How long are you staying?

They legally must file a TM30 within 24 hours after you move in.

A friend? Yeah right....

You only need one if you need to use Immigration for and extension or some other service