FreeBeg

I just need a basic website with about a dozen pages.....a home page, a simple spec sheet type page for each of the 7 product models and an info/contact page.

Would it be easiest to choose a web based company or Ionos and choose a template they offer, or are there small time web design companies/freelancers who can do the work for a reasonable fee and make a handfull of changes once or twice a month?

You can try different sites that can build a site for you. this is very good if you don't want to pay for your site.

I can recommend using services that will make a ssl certificate - namecheap. This will help improve the security of your site by installing data encryption. This way, no one can decrypt the data that passes through your site.

Absolutely! When building a business website, start with a clear plan. Define your target audience, choose a user-friendly design, and create compelling content. Optimize for search engines, ensuring your website ranks well. Don't forget the importance of domain details; perform a WHOIS Lookup to check domain ownership and registration information. Lastly, engage with your audience through social media. Good luck with your website journey!