You do realize that the lifting of the ban on general solicitation does not mean that startups and small businesses will simply be able to advertise at their leisure, right? These are still Reg D offerings, which require paperwork, and under the new rules, companies that are going to be advertising publicly will need to file their Form D with the SEC 15 days before the offering. Interested investors will also need to be vetted to ensure that they're qualified to participate.

You don't put together a Reg D offering without competent legal counsel, and competent legal counsel costs money. So before you and your buddies can even test the fundraising waters through general solicitation, you'll have to make an investment of your own and that could easily run into the five figures.