BRI CEO Shares 5 Business Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Yogyakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The President Director of PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, Hery Gunardi, shared business tips from his perspective as a senior banker during the Jogja Financial Festival at the Jogja Expo Center, Special Region of Yogyakarta, on Saturday (23/5/2026).
He presented five tips that the public can follow when starting a business. First, he suggested that prospective entrepreneurs should start with industries that have low entry barriers, meaning they are not overly difficult to enter. This implies that entrepreneurs can attempt types of businesses where competition is not excessively tight or harsh.
“As a professional, I see it differently; others might view it from a different angle. So, if you truly want to enter and start a business, enter an industry where the entry barrier is not difficult,” said Hery, who sat alongside the Founder of CT Corp during this Education Class session.
Second, he continued, is an understanding of market behaviour. Prospective entrepreneurs or entrepreneurs must understand the business landscape they are targeting, including both buyers/clients and competitors.
“Who are the players? Who are the competitors? Who holds the largest market share? Why are they large? Why are they more advanced? We must learn from those who have already succeeded,” he said.
Third, prospective entrepreneurs must possess good business and financial management, even when just starting out. From his experience leading BRI, many MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) fail due to weak financial recording.
“The issue is that individual spending and business spending are recorded together. Consequently, they do not know which is profit and which is loss, because the money is used for daily needs. They must be separated,” Hery noted.
“The left side (income) and the right side (expenditure) must be separated, so it is clear whether the business is making a profit or not,” he added.
Fourth, he reminded that the crucial moment for a new business in the first six months is not about profit, but rather cash flow. Hery emphasised that production must run smoothly so that payments are not delayed.
“For example, you might actually have the potential for good cash flow, but if you allow customers to owe you for too long, your cash will eventually be delayed. Usually, businesses run out of breath because cash is insufficient,” Hery explained.
Therefore, management governance must be good and disciplined. Finally, he advised pioneers to be willing to expand their businesses by understanding technology. He cited the use of social media to sell products as an example.
“This includes using technology so that variable costs can decrease, allowing you to compete. Technology, for instance, can be used via the Internet, selling on TikTok or Instagram, and performing innovations from the digital and online sides,” he concluded.