Skiptown is entering Texas with a five-unit franchise agreement covering Greater Austin, giving the modern pet care brand a new market for expansion. Marilyn and Matt Willson, longtime Austin residents, will own and operate the locations, with the first site targeted to open in fall 2027. Four additional locations are planned across the region as the couple builds the brand along Austin’s major market corridors.
The Willsons bring complementary experience to the development plan. Marilyn spent 25 years in nonprofit fundraising, building relationships with government officials and community members before working as a licensed Realtor and certified Senior Move Manager. Matt has a professional background in financial analysis, technology and customer service leadership, with an emphasis on translating complex information into practical operational decisions. Their combined experience gives the new franchise group a local focus alongside an analytical approach to business management.
The expansion will begin in the northern part of the Austin market, where the Willsons are evaluating potential sites in North Austin, Cedar Park and Pflugerville for the flagship location. Following the first opening, they expect to add another location roughly every 18 months. Skiptown’s pet care model combines daycare, overnight boarding, bathing, grooming and walking with technology designed to simplify booking, check-in and communication for pet parents.
Recurring customer relationships are also part of Skiptown’s franchise model. The company describes its franchise offering as membership-based, with recurring revenue supported by services such as daycare, boarding and grooming. For franchise systems managing recurring customer programs across multiple locations, Gorilla Dash offers a Memberships and Subscriptions feature that can help organize those programs as the network grows.
For Skiptown, the Austin agreement represents more than a single-market opening. It establishes the brand’s entry into Texas while giving the Willsons a long-term development plan spanning multiple communities. With the first location still in development, the next milestones will be site selection, construction and the eventual launch of Skiptown’s first Texas operation in fall 2027.
