Meet Tara Bates | Owner of Zeal Bookkeeping

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tara Bates and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tara, how does your business help the community?
This probably wasn’t the reason that I started my business, but this has been the evolved purpose on growing it. 2022 hit hard for small businesses, as we all know! And so many businesses dwindled away because they did not have the information that they needed. Bookkeeping is so essential for the stability of small businesses and this is has become my purpose. I LOVE supporting small businesses because I first hand have seen what it does for the family behind it. Literally puts groceries on tables and presents in stockings. Small business owners have a fire to fight for their passions and being able to support them in a way that I know how and am good at, is an honor! I am able to bring a little peace of mind and take something off their plate, and that always feels so good!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Zeal Bookkeeping formed by me following what I was passionate about. I am such a people person, but also good with all the behind the scene number stuff. I am not your average bookkeeper when it comes to being a people person. I LOVE meeting new business owners and actually learning about them and their “why” and their passions. The reason why they started their business in the first place. We talk about kids and where they grew up and issues they are dealing with personally. I want to know all the things! But don’t get me wrong, I do absolutely love my business, but does it always feel like this?? Definitely not! There are times where I want to throw my hands up! I’m literally in that season right now. Where it feels like so much going on at the time that it seems like throwing your hands up is the best option. But we as business owners know that it isn’t an option. We put our heads down and we swim through the late nights, and the emails sitting in our inbox, and the processes that need to be formed, and the short weekends, because we love what we do and work isn’t just work, it’s who we are!
Zeal is a synonym for Passion. That is why we are here at Zeal Bookkeeping. We want to support you and help you get back to what you love doing! There are so many hats a business owner wears, trust me, we know that! I can personally relate! But that is why I started this business, to meet business owners right where their passions are!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh this is a fun one! So if my best friend came to visit, going to wineries would be at the top of the list. Just something about having a beer or glass of wine and talking, which I do a lot of, it just fills you up!
Temecula has so many good restaurants, I can’t even name a top 5, I have so many favorites! Definitely, stopping at a couple of those through out the week!
We’d go down to the beach and hang out, listen to live music and watch the sunset. I’m from Hawaii, so this is something I love to do, but it’s so hard to beat home. SoCal, is a nice runner up though!
Then we’d make time for Disneyland… and do it without kids! haha I love my kids, but if my bestie is in town, we are definitely going without them!
This is a good start! I’d have to really think about this one more haha I have so many ideas!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost I wouldn’t have been able to take off on this part of my life without my Husband. We just trusted in God that this would work out, and so far, we are blessed and not disappointed! He has supported me from Day 1 and helps me so much. We have 3 kids, and there are many weekends and late nights that I am in the office. He takes on that responsibility when I’m gone and it is never an argument. Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard! But we both know how much Zeal Bookkeeping means to me, my clients, and our family. I’m also so thankful for Brooke Swan! Huge Shoutout to her! I met her through a program that we took, BL. And she has been a complete mentor to me and my business. When I first started out, I was totally not confident in how things and processes should be done, and she is always so willing to help me figure things out!
And then to my girl, Sasha Rose! It might seem so little, but as a working mom who is sometimes drowning in responsibilities… it’s sooo needed to share that with someone who understands and just bounce our problems, ideas, and struggles off of. She is a rockstar and totally inspires me!

Website: www.zealbookkeeping.com

Instagram: @zealbookkeeping

Facebook: @zealbookkeeping

Image Credits
Instagram Handles: @paigecreative (all photos in the same shoot) @tiaesthercreative (white shirt photo) @mandispottsville (family photo)