Look into a Content management system like Wordpress, blogger, and joomla. They will get you up and running. You can customize them all you want and you really wont have to worry about cross browser issues. Sometimes a page looks good in Firefox, and looks like crap in IE. Just a PITA. Are you thinking shopping cart and all that Jazz? or just a simple sight to show off your work and have people Email you and call you for the rods?
Agree with above, this day and age a first impression says allot. If your site ends up looking like crap, people will not give your business the time of day.
Good luck man!