From $10K to Eight Figures: Justin Allan Montgomery Reveals the Continuing Education Course Blueprint on The Proven Entrepreneur

On Episode 165 of The Proven Entrepreneur, host Don Williams interviews Justin Allan Montgomery, founder of ProCourseStart, who turned a $10,000 investment into an eight-figure continuing education (CE) course business and retired at 39. The episode, titled 'The 8-Figure Loophole: Building a High-Demand Continuing Education Business,' published July 3, 2026, offers a tactical breakdown of how to build a high-demand CE business in a market where generic online courses face increasing skepticism.

Montgomery argues that continuing education courses for licensed professionals represent a uniquely durable category in the e-learning market. Unlike many online courses that struggle for buyers, CE is recession-resistant because professionals such as dentists, lawyers, chiropractors, electricians, and nurse practitioners are legally required to complete ongoing education to maintain their licenses. This built-in, repeat-buyer market provides a steady demand that survives economic downturns.

One of the key insights Montgomery shares is the importance of audience-first marketing. When he launched his first company, The Elite Nurse Practitioner, in 2018, he spent six months building an audience of roughly 3,000 nurse practitioners before selling anything. This approach paid off: he generated $50,000 in his first seven days. He grew that audience to 20,000, then 30,000, and eventually 40,000 subscribers—without relying on viral videos or a six-figure follower count.

Montgomery is candid about the realities of running a CE business, particularly debunking the myth of passive income. 'There's no such thing as passive income. I'm sorry. There just isn't,' he tells Williams. He explains that even his eight-figure CE business required roughly ten hours per week of active input while generating $250,000 to $300,000 in monthly course sales, with some Black Friday months topping a million dollars. He warns aspiring course creators against skipping validation, emphasizing that entrepreneurs should spend more time developing their idea, value proposition, and identifying problems to solve than actually building the course.

Montgomery also provides a tactical breakdown of a $10,000 startup budget: approximately $3,000 on product build and $7,000 on marketing. He recommends using AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to validate a course idea before spending any money on development. This audience-first model, combined with a clear understanding of the CE market, enabled Montgomery to scale his business to an eight-figure exit and retire at 39.

For Texas businesses and entrepreneurs, this episode offers a roadmap for tapping into the lucrative CE market, which is particularly relevant given Texas's large and growing population of licensed professionals. The implications are significant: by focusing on a legally mandated market, entrepreneurs can create a sustainable, recession-resistant revenue stream. Montgomery's journey from a six-figure investment to an eight-figure exit demonstrates that with the right strategy, the CE loophole can be a powerful driver of economic impact in the state.

Episode 165 of The Proven Entrepreneur is available now wherever podcasts are heard and at provenentrepreneurshow.com.