Meet Jeff Thon

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jeff Thon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jeff, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?

You know, I’ve always looked at risk a little differently. Most people hear that word and think of jumping into something uncertain, but in business funding, it’s really about understanding risk, not just taking it.

At Clear Skies Capital, we don’t make decisions blindly or emotionally; we make them based on patterns, behavior, and data. Before a business ever goes to formal underwriting, our team does a deep dive to really understand their financial health. We know small businesses have ups and downs and that’s okay. What matters is understanding why those fluctuations happen.

For example, we look at the number of monthly deposits to get a sense of how income comes in and whether they can comfortably manage payments. Average daily balances tell us how strong their cashflow is throughout the month, while overdrafts or NSF activity help us gauge if there’s a real risk of missed payments. We even review transfers to make sure deposits represent true revenue, not just money moving between accounts.

Time in business also tells us a lot, it shows proof of concept and scalability. We can work with companies as young as six months old, but we still want to see signs that they’re growing in a healthy direction.

We also look at what we call competitor balances, which helps us see how much of their revenue is already going toward other financing. If a business is spending more than 20% of its revenue on debt payments, that’s a sign the business might be overextended. The best approvals usually come from businesses keeping that number around 10% or less.

So for me, “taking risk” really means managing it smartly. It’s about making informed, responsible decisions that help business owners get access to capital without putting them or us in a bad position.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

What we do at Clear Skies Capital is simple at its core, we help small business owners access the capital they need when traditional banks can’t or won’t step in. That’s really what drives us.

A lot of great businesses don’t check every box a bank might require, maybe they’ve had inconsistent revenue, are still rebuilding credit, or operate in an industry that banks see as “too risky.” But that doesn’t mean they’re not viable or worth investing in. That’s where we come in.

What makes this work exciting is the problem-solving side of it. We analyze cash flow patterns, deposits, how consistent their income is, and even how they manage expenses. That gives us a clear picture of their ability to sustain financing responsibly.

We offer several types of flexible funding, from business lines of credit and term loans to revenue-based financing and even equipment financing. Each one is designed to meet businesses where they are and give them room to grow, not restrict them.

What’s new and exciting right now is how we’re leaning further into flexible and data-driven lending models like Revenue-Based Financing. It’s a product built for real-world business, not just perfect credit profiles.

At the end of the day, our goal is to help business owners feel like they have a partner, not just a lender. The most rewarding part of this work is seeing someone use our financing to take the next big step, whether that’s expanding locations, buying new equipment, or simply stabilizing cash flow so they can breathe a little easier.

That’s the heart of Clear Skies Capital: giving real businesses real options when they need them most.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, I’d say the three biggest things that have made the difference in my journey are perseverance, active listening, and a deep understanding of business finance.

Perseverance is huge in any business. There are going to be ups and downs, and you have to be able to push through the times when the phone isn’t ringing or deals aren’t closing. The key is to keep showing up, keep making calls, and keep improving your process. Consistency beats talent when things get tough.

Active listening has been just as important. In phone sales, you can tell a lot by what someone doesn’t say. Over time, you develop an ear for it, you can hear when a client’s being cautious, when they’re stretching the truth, or when they’re genuinely looking for help. But active listening isn’t about catching someone in a lie, it’s about understanding where they’re coming from so you can guide the conversation in a way that builds trust and gets them to a real solution.

And finally, understanding business finance. You can’t help business owners if you don’t understand how their cash flow works. Knowing how to read a bank statement, understanding how revenue fluctuates, and being able to identify what’s a healthy financial pattern versus a risky one… that’s what separates a salesperson from a real consultant.

If I had to give advice to someone starting out, I’d say this: be patient with yourself, listen more than you talk, and never stop learning about the businesses you’re trying to help. The more you understand your client’s world, the better you’ll be at helping them navigate it.

How would you describe your ideal client?

Our ideal client is a business owner who’s been in operation for at least a couple of years, has consistent monthly revenue (typically $25,000 or more) and is looking for a smarter, faster alternative to traditional bank financing.

We work especially well with owners in service-based industries like construction, transportation, healthcare, and professional services; businesses that are growing but may not always fit inside the strict lending boxes that banks set. Maybe they’ve had uneven revenue months, or their credit isn’t perfect, but they’ve proven they can run and grow their company. That’s where we come in.

What makes an ideal client isn’t just the numbers, it’s mindset. The best relationships happen when a business owner values transparency and communication. When we understand their challenges and goals, we can structure a financing plan that actually helps them move forward, whether that’s a line of credit for working capital or a revenue-based loan that flexes with their sales.

At the end of the day, we’re looking for business owners who are serious about growth and want a financing partner they can actually talk to, not a bank that tells them “no” without understanding their story.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.clearskiescapital.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearskiescapital/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clearskiescapital
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-skies-capital
• Twitter: https://x.com/clearskiescap
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@clearskiescapitalinc1293
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-thon/

Image Credits

Rodrigo Tolentino
Kamila Agnas