How a Passion for Pets Helped Jason and Steven Parker Turn a Small Dog Walking Business into a Rapidly Growing Franchise Concept

Brothers Jason and Steven Parker have always shared a love of dogs. So when their parents told them that they couldn’t have one of their own, they decided to start a dog walking business.

Word of their new venture spread quickly around their neighborhood, and they were soon filled with requests to look after dogs while families were either away on vacation or busy at work. That’s how they were first introduced to the idea of luxury pet boarding—one of their clients asked them to pick up their dog at a high end, overnight facility for pets. After learning that demand was on the rise within the industry, the Parker brothers decided to launch a new business: K9 Resorts Daycare and Luxury Hotel.  

“Because we were so young when we first started our dog walking business, this is all that we’ve ever known. But our perception of being leaders and entrepreneurs has absolutely changed since we took our concept to the next level and launched a franchising opportunity,” said Steven.  

Since its official founding in 2005, K9 Resorts has been growing at a steady pace. After establishing a strong reputation across its home state of New Jersey, the Parkers decided to expand through franchising to tap into key development markets throughout the U.S. And with a goal of crossing the 100-unit mark within the next five years, it’s clear that K9 Resorts is planning to build off its strong momentum.

Through its state of the art facilities that include cage-free boarding suites and separate zones to distinguish air control for certain groups of dogs to its commitment to providing exceptional customer service, K9 Resorts has caught the eye of not only consumers, but industry professionals. The brand has been named the number one pet care facility in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly Magazine, recognized as one of the top three luxury pet care brands by iHeartDogs.com and even named one of Franchise Times’ Dealmaker of the Year 2017.

“Being recognized by leading publications and members of the franchising community is an absolute honor. There’s no doubt that receiving those awards has led to some of the proudest moments that we’ve experienced since first launching K9 Resorts,” said Steven. “But on a personal note, there’s nothing more rewarding than having a client tell us what a great experience they’ve had with our brand. Hearing that K9 Resorts is helping give dog owners the opportunity to relax while they’re out of town because they know that their pet is being taken care of is the greatest feeling in the world.”

That passion for taking care of dogs is what ultimately inspires both Jason and Steven Parker to be successful. As the co-founders and co-CEOs behind the brand, they’re both constantly looking for ways to take their concept to the next level to enhance the lives of man’s best friend.

“Whatever it is that you want to do in life, you should want to be the best at it. That drive and passion have to be there in order to be an effective leader,” said Steven. “Jason and I have faced our fair share of obstacles since launching K9 Resorts. But through perseverance and persistence, we’ve been able to overcome them to make things happen.”

Going forward, Jason and Steven have their sights set on continuously raising the bar in the pet care industry. And according to Steven, they’ll be able to make that mission a reality by staying motivated by their passion instead of their bottom lines.  

“The best business ideas come when you’re trying to fill a void or a need. We launched K9 Resorts because the pet care industry was missing a high end, luxury daycare and hotel. We didn’t start the company just to make money,” said Steven. “Once you know what purpose you’re serving, don’t give up until you make it happen. If you have the attitude and mentality that you’re going to be successful, odds are, you are.”