Basically there are two types of sites that you can create, a simple ecommerce site or its monstrous sister on steroids - the ecommunity information based site.
The problem with the latter is usually you have to find a place to park the enormous database that comes with the creation of a site that is both community and information based.
This means purchasing a lot of software.
If you are a complete newbie, I suggest you build a simple ecommerce site first and then investigate the wonderful world of databases a little later in your entrepreneurial career.
As you are just a newbie when it comes to making money on the Internet, it is probably not practical or viable for you to assign the design of your first e-commerce site out to an independent contractor who is reputable.
The good news for newbies is that there are tons of cost effective s ways for you to build your own site even if you have little or no technical expertise.
Many of the online site builders are so efficient that you don't need any knowledge of HTML or graphic design to get it up and running.
Even the most pathetic of technopeasants can have a site up and running within 72 hours using today's site builders.