Steven and Jason Parker Created the Luxury Dog Boarding Franchise with Premium Services
Steven (above, left) and Jason Parker (right) have been going all in on business ownership since their teenage years, when they ran a neighborhood dog-walking service. More than two decades later, the brothers are still working side by side, leading K9 Resorts, an award-winning luxury pet hotel and dog day care franchise. “We’ve gone all in our whole lives,” Jason says. “When we had our dog-walking business, we saved every penny to build something bigger.”
That all-in attitude carried the brothers through every stage of growth. When it was time to expand, they even sold the house they owned together to reinvest in the business. “That sale allowed us to double the square footage of our location,” Jason explains.
Before opening their first K9 Resorts location in 2005, the brothers spent years researching pet facilities across the country. They studied everything from flooring and ventilation to room layouts and staff training, with a mission to design a pet boarding and day care service that would stand out for its cleanliness and comfort.
Their research helped them carve out a new niche in pet care and franchising. With premium amenities like cageless luxury suites, memory foam beds, fresh air systems and high-definition TVs tuned to Animal Planet or DOG TV, K9 Resorts proved that dog boarding can be every bit as first class as a five-star human hotel. To elevate the customer experience even further, the brand now partners with the Cornell University School of Hospitality to offer Ivy League–level hospitality training for its staff. At every location, dogs enjoy fun, open play with other pups, burning energy in a safe and engaging environment before retreating to their suites. “We only do things dogs like, and we make sure pet parents love it too,” Steven says. “At the end of their stay, dogs leave here happy, healthy and excited to come back.”
A Growing Franchise
From its first location in Fanwood, N.J., K9 Resorts has blossomed into a nationally recognized brand that caters to the most discriminating pet parents and their happily spoiled pups. Both brothers are lifelong pet lovers, so they understand how much pets mean to families. “My dog sleeps in bed with my wife and me,” Jason says. “We spoil them dearly.”
After more than two decades in business, the brothers have watched their model prove it has staying power — even through difficult times like the 2008 downturn and the COVID-19 pandemic. “In 2008, we had just one location. We may have gone down a couple of percentage points in revenue, but the next year we made it up and had double-digit growth,” Jason recalls. “During COVID, sales declined, but we worked with our landlords and banks, and all locations grew to unprecedented revenues after the pandemic. By 2021, they were doing better than in 2019.”
That kind of resilience has helped K9 Resorts achieve remarkable growth. Today, the brand has 47 locations open and another 125 in development. It has also become the most award-winning pet care brand in the world, recognized both locally and internationally for its spotless facilities, premium service and luxury design. In addition, the Parker brothers have been honored as top entrepreneurs by Ernst & Young, while the franchise itself has earned a place on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing franchises.
As for what it takes to succeed, the Parkers say the best franchisees are those who share their drive and commitment. “We want owners who see the opportunity, who love the idea of leading a team and building something lasting,” Jason says. “This is a chance to run with a brand built to last.”
About K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel
K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel is a dog care franchise focused on high-end pet hospitality. It offers luxury dog boarding and daycare in a clean, organized, resort-style setting. The brand features services like luxury suites, executive rooms, traditional boarding options, supervised daycare, trained staff and its proprietary K9 Clean System, which helps keep facilities sanitized, comfortable for dogs and reassuring for pet parents. K9 Resorts taps a growing market of pet parents willing to pay top dollar to keep their furry friends happy. According to a survey from the APPA (American Pet Products Association), Americans spent $157 billion on their pets in 2025.
