From the garage to the kennel - how Ka-Pooch! found its paws

Just seven years ago Ka-Pooch!, a leading Melbourne dog day-care centre, was being operated in founder Sam Mendelson's garage.

Now, the trusted brand is expanding to its third Melbourne location, and Mendelson has his sights set on the rest of Australia.

But as is the case with most entrepreneurs, getting to this position wasn't easy. In fact, Mandelson says he had no idea he even wanted to become an entrepreneur in the first place.

Before 2011, Mendelson was an ex-postie with a degree in Philosophy, or to put it simply: he had no idea what he wanted to do.

"I was at a bit of a loose end," says Mendelson. "I'd studied Arts at university and didn't have great job prospects."

By chance, his partner, who worked in sales for a dog food company, told Mendelson about dog day-care centres in the Victorian capital and how business for them was booming.

"They were doing a booming business but they weren't particularly good," says Mendelson.

"I went along and checked them out myself and thought I could do a lot better."

Mendelson and his friend, now former-business partner, decided to start Ka-Pooch! from his garage. In the beginning it was just dog walking and grooming, but it naturally grew from there. Read more

David Simmons - Business News Australia - 23 Feb 2018