Becoming a Marketing Agent: A Low-Capital Business Alternative Gaining Increasing Attention
The desire to start a business is often hampered by limited capital. Operational costs such as renting premises, stocking goods, and promotion cause some people to delay their steps. Amid these conditions, the profession of marketing agent is considered one of the low-risk business alternatives with high flexibility.
One practitioner in this field, Raka Rosadi Putra, admitted to choosing the path of marketing agent after considering various business options. “I looked for something with sufficiently low risk but still with profit potential. From several options, Prudential Syariah was initially my last choice. But after I eliminated them based on risk and opportunities, it turned out to be the most ideal and worthwhile for me,” he said.
Demographically, Indonesia has great potential to drive entrepreneurship growth. The number of Generation Z reaches around 74.93 million people and millennials 69.38 million people, who dominate the productive age. However, the Ministry of SMEs records that the national entrepreneurship ratio in 2025 will only reach 3.29%, so more business opportunities need to be accessible to the public.
The marketing agent profession is seen as aligned with the spirit of entrepreneurship. Besides being flexible, this job does not require large capital. Marketing agents also have an important role in providing financial education to the public, especially in the insurance sector.
Based on the 2024 National Survey on Financial Literacy and Inclusion (SNLIK), the sharia financial literacy index is recorded at 43.42%, while sharia financial inclusion is only 13.41 percent. This data shows the still low understanding of the public towards sharia financial products, thus requiring more intensive guidance.
In the insurance industry, marketing agents not only focus on selling products but also help the public in financial planning and understanding risks. This role is considered important in increasing public trust in financial services.
The opportunities in this profession are also reflected in industry achievements. At the 2025 Sharia Insurance Convention and Awards (SICA), Prudential Syariah’s marketing agents won six awards, including the The Best of The Best Sharia Agent category.
Raka admitted to having fully pursued this profession since 2022 and handling various customer claims with values up to hundreds of millions of rupiah. “I once assisted a participant with a claim of up to Rp500 million, and the total claims I have handled now have reached billions of rupiah,” he said.
According to him, the main key in the marketing agent profession is not the amount of capital, but consistency in building networks and improving one’s capacity. “First ask, do you have dreams or not, and how do you want to achieve them. If you’re still in doubt, empty your glass—study diligently and look at opportunities from a new perspective,” he said.