Bulltown Bookkeeping & Tax
With the start of a new year comes fresh goals and an important set of deadlines many people would rather avoid: taxes and bookkeeping…
Tim Yoder and his wife Christine Hathaway. They recently opened Bulltown Bookkeeping & Tax in Kalona
Posted
Sunday,February 1, 202610:53 pm
For residents in Kalona and the surrounding communities, help is now closer to home with the opening of Bulltown Bookkeeping & Tax, a new accounting firm operated by CPA Tim Yoder and his wife, Christine.
The business recently opened a downtown Kalona office next to One to One Pharmacy, owned by David McDaniel, from whom Yoder rents the space. The building previously housed a chiropractic office but has now been converted into an accounting firm.
Before opening a physical location, Yoder spent about a year working remotely, primarily serving clients online.
“I had been working remotely out of my home for about a year, mostly online, offering bookkeeping services, mentoring new bookkeepers in QuickBooks, and working with my own clients,” Yoder said. “Around October, we decided we wanted to start serving local clients, and to do that we knew we needed a physical location.”
Yoder said opening an office has already proven to be the right move.
“Having an office has been fantastic,” he said. “We’ve already seen a lot of foot traffic coming in, and it feels like things are off to a really strong start.”
Yoder brings decades of experience to Bulltown Bookkeeping, particularly with QuickBooks. He said he has worked with the software for roughly 35 years and considers it an essential tool when used correctly.
“I’ve been using QuickBooks since the 1990s and have always been familiar with it, but I’ve really become an expert over the last five years,” Yoder said. “A lot of people use QuickBooks, but very few use it correctly, and that’s why so many people struggle with it.”
His professional background includes time in public accounting for a national firm, where he worked for about six years. He later earned a PhD from Penn State before teaching tax courses at Mississippi State University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. After leaving academia, Yoder worked at a small firm in Omaha, where he gained experience managing a local practice and working directly with clients.
His wife, Christine Hathaway also plays a role in the business. While Bulltown Bookkeeping is Tim’s full-time job, Christine, who works full time at Open Gates Group, which owns Kalona Creamery, assists with ideas and decision-making.
“We market it as a husband-and-wife operation and manage it together,” Yoder said. “When things get busy, she’s able to help out as needed.”
When it comes to tax preparation, Yoder said he prioritizes accuracy over speed.
“I like to allow at least a week to complete a return,” he said. “I prepare it, set it aside for a day or two, and then review it with fresh eyes. It can slow the turnaround slightly, but most people don’t mind waiting about a week.”
Bulltown Bookkeeping & Tax is operating extended hours during tax season and offers flexibility for clients.
“Through April 15, we’ll be open on Saturdays, with listed hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Thursdays when I stay open until 6:30 p.m.,” Yoder said. “If the lights are on, people are welcome to stop in.”
Yoder works with both individuals and businesses, noting that Kalona and the surrounding area are home to many small businesses. He said many owners are hesitant when it comes to bookkeeping and technology, often because of past negative experiences.
“I recently worked with a business that had been told for years they needed to convert from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online but were extremely nervous,” Yoder said. “By the end of the process, they told me they weren’t nervous at all.”
He explained that QuickBooks has shifted most of its development toward its online platform, making the transition necessary for many small businesses.
“My goal is to help small businesses navigate that transition so they can stop worrying about their books and focus on what they do best,” he said.
Yoder said estimating costs varies depending on the service being provided.
“With individual tax returns, I can usually give clients a fairly accurate estimate based on what their return looked like the previous year,” he said. “Bookkeeping is harder to estimate upfront because I really need to look at their books first.”
Since opening, Bulltown Bookkeeping & Tax has already seen steady interest.
“We’ve been open for about three weeks and have already worked with around 30 individuals,” Yoder said. “I’m hoping that number grows to 50 or 60 soon.”
The name Bulltown Bookkeeping & Tax reflects Kalona’s history.
“When we were operating online, our legal business name was Two Hearts Accounting,” Yoder said. “Once we decided to focus locally, we wanted a name with a stronger local connection. Bulltown has always been a nickname for Kalona.”
As he looks ahead, Yoder said he is excited to serve the community.
“After 30 years in accounting, it feels like everything I’ve done has led to this moment,” he said. “It allows me to combine tax expertise, technology, and personal service to help local businesses focus on what they do best.”
To schedule an appointment with Tim Yoder at Bulltown Bookkeeping & Tax, individuals can call (319) 471-4590 or connect through the business’s website or Facebook page.
