This study investigates the role of entrepreneurial skills in enhancing competitive advantage among “Fresh Milk” Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Randu Padangan Village, Gresik, Indonesia. Employing a quantitative research design with a saturated sample of 37 entrepreneurs, the study utilized a structured questionnaire and SPSS-based statistical analysis, including t-tests and determination coefficient (R²) analysis. The results confirm that entrepreneurial skills significantly and positively influence competitive advantage, with a determination coefficient of 91.9%, indicating that nearly all competitive advantage can be attributed to the entrepreneurs’ competencies. The findings offer empirical evidence for the critical function of entrepreneurial capacity—even in low-formal-education settings—in driving rural MSME performance. This study provides a microeconomic lens on how technical, social, and managerial skills among grassroots dairy entrepreneurs contribute to resilience and differentiation in a highly competitive market. Its contribution to international discourse lies in framing entrepreneurial skill development as a vital mechanism for achieving sustainable local economic competitiveness. Future research may expand this framework to cross-country comparisons of MSME ecosystems, examine digital entrepreneurship interventions, or analyze how informal entrepreneurial learning influences sectoral innovation in emerging markets.