Ever wish your company could raise capital the Kickstarter(R) way? Equity crowdfunding is finally here, opening new funding avenues for small businesses and start-ups.

In April 2012, President Obama signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups--or JOBS--Act into law. This groundbreaking legislation empowers privately-owned companies to raise capital from investors without going through the rigorous IPO and private placement processes. Now that the SEC has handed down the last regulations, the floodgates will open and companies will be free to compete for funding.

Small...