Changing from employment to self employed

[newy]

Any advice on the following?

I have been working for the last 3 years with a non immigrant B visa and work permit in the hotel industry.

I am Australian, have a Thai wife and 1 yr son.

We now want to open a business, which means leaving my job, sorting out my own visa and organising a work permit.

Can someone recomend the most painless way to get a long visa, get a work permit and not have to leave the country every 3 months?

Some options I have heard mentioned is residency which is open to people who have been here a while already, or

finding 2 million baht for a business startup, be employed by my wife, etc.

thanks

Newy