If you are american under the "special agreement" there is a whole different (and advantageous) set of rules for obtaining a business visa. Check with your local US consulate. I dont know the particulars just the thai embassy in Rome mentioned it as an alternative to the "retirement" visa.
that's how to get the visa. I need to know what I need to do to enter with a METV visa. As it is we are going to raise flags because we are converting from a retirement visa to a METV while we close up and leave.