From Dog-Walkers to Franchisors: With K-9 Resorts, Steve and Jason Parker Offer Much More Than Just Doggie Day Care

Steve Parker and his brother Jason weren’t allowed to have pets in their home, but that didn’t stop them from getting their canine fix.

In 1999, with just $20 and a set of business cards, the two brothers started their own dog-walking business. Steve was only 12 and Jason was 14 at the time, and they were busy idolizing business moguls like Donald Trump while other kids their age looked up to figures like Michael Jordan. Their goal in running a business was simple—prove that they were not only willing, but ready, to care for a dog. What they ended up with as young entrepreneurs was so much more.

For nearly six years, the brothers ran a successful dog-walking business, fueled by their love of dogs and self-taught business savvy. But everything changed in the fall of 2002, when Steve flew to Nashville, Tennessee to attend an international conference and convention for professional pet sitters. It was at this convention—and by witnessing how successful other pet care professionals have become—that the dream of opening a luxury hotel for dogs was born.

In 2005, Steven and Jason purchased a commercial building, and they had it custom engineered and constructed to be one of the finest pet care facilities in the nation. They called it K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel, and it would eventually become the leader in luxury pet care. Today, due to the unparalleled level of service offered, K-9 Resorts is currently ranked the No. 1 boarding facility in New Jersey (the Parkers’ home state) and rated in the top three in the entire country.

Steve likes to describe their business as the “Ritz-Carlton for dogs,” and for good reason—K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotels provides resort-style vacations and doggie daycare by combining homelike amenities with recreational activities. Their facilities are state-of-the-art, too, and have been custom designed to exceed all kennel industry standards. This includes cage-free boarding options, designer suites, and even color TV with cable tuned to Animal Planet.

Staff members are also professionally trained and certified, providing top-of-the-line customer service, animal expertise and the peace-of-mind that every dog owners needs.

“We quickly realized that we have a proven model that is highly profitable, and no one is doing it to the level of luxury that we are. So if you have something that’s never been done before, why not just be the first, but do it extremely well?” Steve said.

As the demand for their services grew, the Parkers realized they were on the verge of something big. In early 2010, Steve and Jason decided to provide other pet lovers with the opportunity to be their own business owners by sharing the knowledge and expertise they had gained over the past 15 years. They determined that franchising was the best way to grow. And after conducting their due diligence, they met with SMB Franchise Advisors, a top franchise consulting firm, to assist them in taking the next big step forward.

K-9 officially became a franchise company in January 2011, and they sold their first franchise to one of their long-time customers only two months later. By 2015, they had six locations open in two states and three in immediate development.

“There’s an immense amount of development potential in the pet services industry. We wanted to grow the right way and have proven that our franchisees can be successful being a part of the premier dog boarding hotel in the industry,” Jason said.

In early 2016, K-9 took a major leap forward in their goal of becoming the No. 1 name in pet care—the brand partnered with private equity firm Navigator Partners, LLC for a multi-million dollar investment to fuel the brand’s continued expansion. Now, the Parker brothers have their sights set outside the Garden State, with plans to open 80 new locations nationwide over the next five years.

“We’ve spent the last five years establishing the K-9 Resorts brand as a franchise, awarding and opening locations and perfecting our system. We now have the opportunity to really make a lasting footprint throughout the country,” Steve said. “In the past 17 years, K-9 has really grown into a brand with unlimited potential. We’re excited to continue growing with the help of franchisees.”