Jonny Watson and Yusef Smith Review: How Did 2 Former Professionals Built a 6-Figure Fitness Business?

Jonny Watson and Yusef Smith: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Both have legitimate professional backgrounds outside fitness, bringing real business expertise
• Both have national and international athletic achievements
• Propane business has proven successful for over 15 years and served over 3,000 clients

Cons

• Limited information available about founders outside their own marketing materials
• Reviews primarily come from their own platforms rather than independent sources

How Did Jonny Watson and Yusef Smith Built Their 6-Figure Fitness Empire?

Jonny Watson and Yusef Smith built their 6-figure business by transitioning to online coaching instead of traditional personal training. This approach allowed them to work with multiple clients simultaneously and widened their market reach to an international level. They use targeted Facebook ads for lead generation and their “no-call funnel” strategy to convert their audience. This involves offering free 14-day challenges that naturally lead to their full coaching program offer. They describe this strategy as converting without making any sales calls. Jonny and Yusef also expanded their business to offer consultation services with their Propane Business program.

Jonny and Yusef also founded Propane Fitness in 2008. This was long before the market for online fitness coaching was saturated. This helped establish them as early pioneers in the industry. Both founders had jobs to support their business as it grew in the initial years. Their professional expertise also greatly affected their success. Watson brings accounting and business systems expertise to the business, while Smith contributes medical knowledge to the programs.

Who Is Jonny Watson?

Jonny Watson is a former chartered accountant turned fitness business owner from Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. Prior to co-founding Propane Fitness, he worked as an accountant at KPMG for over 3 years. This experience sharpened his skills in financial analysis, business systems, and strategic planning. It helped him teach systems, processes, and financial strategies to Propane Business students. He trained over 1,400 fitness professionals to transition from gym-based personal training to online fitness coaching.

Watson was also a competitive powerlifter who has competed at the national level 7 times. He represented the United Kingdom in both European and World Championships through the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). His personal records are remarkable: a 165kg bench press, 250kg squat, and 317kg deadlift, all achieved at a bodyweight of 91kg. Jonny has an economics degree from the University of York. Jonny Watson has been the director of Propane Fitness since 2016.

Who Is Yusef Smith?

Dr. Yusef Smith is a former NHS doctor turned fitness entrepreneur from Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. He worked in investment banking, in asset management, and as an NHS doctor at the Royal Victoria Infirmary for 2.5 years. His medical expertise is in human physiology, anatomy, and evidence-based practice. This medical knowledge provided unique value to Propane Fitness programs. Yusef also has degrees in mathematics and business.

Smith was also a competitive athlete across multiple disciplines, including powerlifting, Olympic lifting, and gymnastics. He has competed at national and international levels through the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). His personal records at a bodyweight of 78kg include: bodyweight plus 72kg weighted dip, 90kg snatch, 240kg deadlift, 150kg bench press, 120kg clean, and 200kg squat. He did this all while maintaining a single-digit body fat percentage.

What Is Propane Fitness?

Propane Fitness is an online fitness coaching service founded by Jonny Watson and Yusef Smith in 2008. The company specializes in helping clients achieve physique and performance goals through systematic training and nutrition programs. What makes Propane Fitness stand out is its evidence-based approach to fitness using Yusef’s medical expertise on human anatomy and physiology. Their personalized training and nutrition coaching have helped over 5,000 clients worldwide.

Can Jonny Watson and Yusef Smith Help You With Propane Business?

Jonny Watson and Yusef Smith can help you with your own fitness business through the Propane Business coaching program. It helps you transition from traditional gym-based personal training to scalable online coaching. The 12-week intensive covers lead generation, offer creation, and transitioning to group coaching models. ‌The Business Foundations Course tackles setup, legal considerations, and financial management. The Fast-Track Launch Program guides you through getting your first clients as soon as possible. Facebook advertising training takes up the bulk of the program because of the importance of marketing in the business model. There are also ready-to-use templates and Facebook community support.

How I Generate Leads Without Paying Ads and Earn Over $52K a Month

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Check out our local lead generation training program to learn how to generate free leads for your own business. You can also use what you learn to create your own rank-and-rent business. You can even earn while learning by applying the lessons to generate leads for my long-term client and earn a commission.