In this site and in an article in the Bangkok Post some time ago, I read that there are 5 different criteria for obtaining a work permit.  These sources say that if you don't meet any of the first four rules, you can obtain a work permit if you pay or agree to pay at least 18000 Baht income tax.  As I read this, it means that you don't have to have a minimum capital paid in or a minimum number of Thai employees.  Just pay the minimum income tax.

Yet, every attorney/visa service I have talked to insist that I have to have a company with 2 million Baht paid in capital.  I will have a service business, won't need anything like that amount of capital.  

So, my question is, how do I get the work permit without the big capital investment?

Just checked this with Labour Dept. Sorry for late reply.

It has been 2 Mil Baht per work permit required for a very long time, and that has not changed.

This forum thread explains a few tricks to avoid paying up the capital:

http://forum.thaivisa.com/cgi-bin/ikonboar...act=ST;f=1;t=16