Franchisee Spotlight: Bill Ippolito

Bill Ippolito is a New Jersey native with a background in medicine. Having been a physician assistant for the past 10 years, Bill has now transitioned into the corporate world, where he has decided to open a K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Bill is lifelong dog owner and new a dad.  

How did you learn about the brand?

My girlfriend’s (Larisa Citsay- who will be helping me run the business) brother is friends with Jason and Steven Parker, the co-founders of K-9 Resorts.  Their entrepreneurial accomplishments at such a young age really inspired me to invest in opening my own K-9 Resorts.

What was appealing to you about joining a franchise system?

I am currently a physician assistant, so the business world is somewhat new to me. I knew as a franchisee owner, I would get great help with the process and have instant support on day one and well into the future. 

What makes your business different?

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel is a very well organized and clean facility. Cleanliness is very important for pet owners. K-9 Resorts doesn’t have a distinct pet odor, is incredibly clean and runs efficiently. It is the perfect option for people who need a safe, comfortable place to leave their pets. K-9 Resorts is also a very young franchise, and I am very confident that it will be successful. I thought it would be best to get in early and help them grow.

I have also been a physician assistant for the past 10 years and decided to do something I was truly passionate about.  The career change is an exciting adventure.

What are your expansion or development plans?

Once we open this location, I would love to be able to open a second location in the near future. I am confident in success of this business.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?

I love dogs. I grew up with a yellow lab and now I have a 5 year old Rottweiler. I am also a new dad! I have a 9 month old son, who consumes a lot of my time. I also enjoy exercising, sports and cars.  

Franchisee Profile: Bill Ippolito

Bill Ippolito is a New Jersey native with a background in medicine. Having been a physicians assistant for the past 10 years, Bill has now transitioned into the corporate world, where he has decided to open a K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Bill is lifelong dog owner and new a dad.

How did you learn about the brand?
My girlfriend’s (Larisa Citsay- who will be helping me run the business) brother is friends with Jason and Steven Parker, the co-founders of K-9 Resorts. Their entrepreneurial accomplishments at such a young age really inspired me to invest in opening my own K-9 Resorts.

What was appealing to you about joining a franchise system?
I am currently a physicians assistant so the business world is somewhat new to me. I knew as a franchisee owner, I would get great help with the process and have instant support on day one and well into the future.

What makes your business different?
K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel is a very well organized and clean facility. Cleanliness is very important for pet owners. K-9 Resorts doesn’t have a distinct pet odor, is incredibly clean and runs efficiently. It is the perfect option for people who need a safe, comfortable place to leave their pets. K-9 Resorts is also a very young franchise, and I am very confident that it will be successful. I thought it would be best to get in early and help them grow.

I have also been a physicians assistant for the past 10 years and decided to do something I was truly passionate about. The career change is an exciting adventure.

What challenges have you overcome to get where you are now?
Well, acquiring the funds was a little bit of a challenge, and I actually had to liquidate some of my retirement assets to help with the money for the down payment on a loan. It would have taken too long if I didn’t use this money to aid in the process. Finding a location took some time and research. I looked at the competitors, the population and the distribution of wealth in the community. Monmouth County seemed like the perfect fit.

What are your expansion or development plans?
Once we open this location, I would love to be able to open a second location in the near future. I am confident in success of this business.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?
I love dogs. I grew up with a yellow lab and now I have a 5 year old Rottweiler. I am also a new dad! I have a 9 month old son, who consumes a lot of my time. I also enjoy exercising, sports and cars.

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel Signs Third Franchisee in New Jersey

New Jersey native makes bold career change and teams up with K-9 Resorts to pursue his true passion for dogs

K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel, the nation’s emerging pet facility franchise, has signed its third franchisee since its franchise launch in early 2011. New Jersey native, Bill Ippolito, will become a first-time business owner as he plans to open the brand’s third location in Monmouth County, New Jersey.

“Bill’s decision to change his career and pursue his true passion for dogs is exactly the type of entrepreneur we want to help launch our franchise system,” said K-9 Resorts’ Co-Founder and CEO Steven Parker. “We are thrilled to now be the go-to luxury pet facility in Monmouth County, and look to be a community leader in the area for many years to come.”

Bill Ippolito has been a physicians assistant for the past 10 years, and while he enjoyed his career in medicine, Bill felt it was time for a change. A lifelong dog owner, Bill has always had a strong connection to the pet care industry. Inspired by the entrepreneurial success of Steve and Jason Parker, the co-founders of K-9 Resorts, Bill decided to invest early in the franchise. Despite the brother’s young age, Bill was impressed by their professionalism, customer service and passion for pet care.

Over the years, Bill had experienced many other pet care facilities that did not make safety, care and customer service priority. When deciding to open a pet care business, K-9 Resorts was the first choice that came to mind because of the high-quality daycare experience each pet receives, and the incredible trust Steven and Jason have built with each customer. Bill saw a high demand for these types of services in the Monmouth County area and approached the Parker brothers about opening a franchise.

“As a lifetime dog owner, I understand the need to have a safe, clean and trustworthy place to leave a pet,” said Bill Ippolito. “I share the same values as Steven and Jason and ultimately have similar visions and goals. I am not only excited about becoming a first-time business owner but also helping build K9 from the ground up. This brand has incredible potential and I can’t wait to be a part of its future.”

“Our goal is to build K-9 Resorts into the nation’s largest pet care franchise company, but do so, staying true to our mission of being No. 1 in quality,” said Jason Parker. “We believe we’ve got our business down to a proven system that works, and can’t wait to teach our secrets to our first franchisees.”

Based in Fanwood, NJ, K-9 Resorts is expanding throughout the region and plans to open six locations this year alone throughout the state. Targeting areas where time-strapped pet owners are looking for a way to keep their pooch occupied during the day, K-9 Resorts has aggressive growth plans in greater New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut region.