[lstamour]

EIN is free, obtained by phone if a foreign individual is setting up the company, or if you've already called, it appears you can use the website to set up an EIN for a local company so long as it's a subsidiary (even international) of a company with an existing EIN. Theoretically slashes $100 off the cost. ;-)

Registered agent... that's a tricky one. I saw this advice on Reddit: "Lots of small business law firms will serve as registered agents for free. Really the only purpose of the RA is to accept service if you get sued, and they figure you're most likely to hire the firm that's already looking at the complaint and forwarding it on to you."

Also some registered agents are national, e.g. Harbour Compliance, just one I found on Google. Here are others: http://registered-agents.credio.com/ (hmm, this website is less useful than I expected, remember to check off "All 50 states" or you'll be missing some...)

[ascorbic]

Top tip: use Skype, make yourself comfortable, and block out at least an hour to be on hold.