The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed rules that would permit small companies to seek funding from the general public. Crowdfunding has grown in popularity among artists and inventors. Companies that create home security gadgets, tiny appliances for micro-apartments and sustainable furniture have all received public funding via platforms like Kickstarter. If the proposed rules pass, fledgling housing industry companies can get their businesses off of the ground with the help of the upper middle class. Under the new rules, companies could raise as much as $1 million each year from the public. Shares can be sold in face-to-face transactions and through online funding portals, similar to Indiegogo and Wefunder but with more stringent regulations. Such opportunities could help small companies gain quick access to capital, increasing the success rate of startups. For Startups The new source of funding couldn’t come at a better time. As the nation recovers from the recession, many are regaining the confidence needed to step out and fulfill their entrepreneurial goals. They can’t afford to vie for the generosity of a few accredited investors, entities whose net income exceeds $1 million. Startups are looking for more easily accessible investors and they are in luck. Many Americans, eager to shrug off recession woes, are seeking new ways to make their money grow. The time is ripe to unite these entrepreneurs and new investors. The proposed changes are not an entirely new idea. The JOBS Act outlined regulatory guidelines that paved the way for crowdfunding. The act also forged the trail for funding portals, third-party internet-based platforms for offering and selling shares. These portals will not be registered as brokers, nor can they offer insights or suggestions on investing.  They operate without SEC approval. This is great news for businesses hoping...