A Five Star Hotel … for Dogs

Before You Go

By Jim Pytell, Assistant Editor On Feb 27, 2017

Young entrepreneurs face many challenges on the road to forging a successful business. K9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel Co-Founder and Co-CEO Steven Parker and his brother overcame age limitations, lobbying with the New Jersey Legislature and others on their way to sculpting one of the most successful pet care facilities in the nation.

The obstacles began before owning a company was even a thought, when at age 14, Parker and his brother were told that they could not get a dog. In order to prove to their parents that they were responsible enough, they decided to start their own dog walking company in their neighborhood.

“Initially, we had no intention of making it a career. We just did it because we loved interacting with the dogs and we were able to make a little money on the side,” Parker says. “When we got older, we became a bit more professional. We had brochures made and had a mailing list of all dog owners near us. … By the time we got to high school, the business was doing very well.”

During his freshman year in high school, Parker attended an international conference for professional dog walkers in Nashville and was surprised to find that thousands of people were actually making a living walking dogs.

In 2003, the brothers turned their business into a full time company. They soon decided that a brick-and-mortar operation would enable their pet sitting company to reach the next level.

“We spent 18 months traveling the country researching all of the [few] top dog hotels and what makes them so attractive,” says Parker, whose goal was to create a venue that eliminated all of the negative aspects and atmosphere of a kennel.

K9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel opened its first location in Fanwood in 2005 and featured fully furnished suites for the dogs, instead of cages.

“Now, if we took down the K9 logo, you would think you’re in a Four Seasons or a Ritz-Carlton,” Parker says.

K9 Resorts was soon rated as the No. 1 pet care facility in New Jersey by several publications, which led to the franchising of the company in 2011. The Parker brothers became the youngest franchisers in American history at 24 and 26 years old. Now the company has 10 locations across three states.

“There were a number of obstacles, like not getting any financing because banks couldn’t believe how young we were,” Parker says. “When we got our first location, my brother couldn’t even sign the lease because he wasn’t 18 yet.”

Perhaps the toughest challenge the brothers faced throughout their journey was a legislative battle in Trenton to remove an outdated law that prohibited the installation of grass or turf at outdoor pet facilities. The process took the brothers several years and a lot of money, but eventually they were able to get their new bill unanimously approved by the State Assembly and Senate.

“We’ve come so far that we are not going to give up when we believe in something,” Parker says. “We are going to continue to pursue it no matter how long it takes or how much it costs. If we feel we are right, we are going to stand up for what we believe in.”