First, you allegation accept that it is a rip off to get companies to architecture websites for you. Accept you anytime apparent those advertisements in bi-weekly classified ad sections that action a 5-page website at $500? These companies are accustomed companies with concrete locations, accordingly they accept to access the bulk they allegation to pay off some overheads: appointment rent, designer's wages, announcement costs and so on.
Therefore, it would be astute to acquisition freelance designers who assignment from home. These bodies are generally alive from home so they do not accept a aerial operation amount like that of a company. On the added hand, they will be able to architecture images with affection agnate to those of designers from big companies, so it's a "no-brainer" choice.
However, accept freelancers with care. The best way to do this would be to go to elance.com. There, you can column the abstruse of your activity and get bags of freelancers to bid on your project, so you will absolutely get the best deal. On top of that, you will be able to accept the designers based on their experience, accomplished affairs and ratings, so your amount for money is secured.
Another avenue you can booty is to architecture your website yourself. Think about it, if you alone charge 5 simple pages to present some simple information, why decay hundreds of dollars for it? Just absorb a little time to sit bottomward and do it yourself. You'll be able to architecture your own sites alike if you do not apperceive a distinct band of HTML cipher with the advice of WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) programs such as Microsoft Frontpage, Macromedia Dreamweaver and so on.