John,

You can get a web site going for a couple hundred of dollars. My suggestion---spend a little extra and have it done by a pro. The cut and paste ones are so generic, and you risk getting lost among countless other sites. Content is important. Include lots of photos, testimonials and such. I even have a few recipes up on mine. I get wonderful feedback on the site, and I am so glad I didn't try to get it done cheaply.

Even more important than the site----you will need to hire somebody to work on the positioning (hosting?!?) of the site. I am not sure how this works, it has to do with links and search terms. I pay my web site designer a monthly fee to make sure that if someone is looking for my services (BBQ Catering) in my area, I appear on page 1 of the search engine results. This step is critical. If you neglect this, I guarantee your site will get lost. People seldom leave page 1 of search results.

I hired a young hungry lady to put it all together for me 6 years ago. She still charges me the same $30 monthly fee for the service, but I am sure I have a bargain there.

The website has been ABSOLUTELY critical to my company's success. It generates about 80% of our business.

Good luck, and if you have any questions, shoot me an email.

Jerome