I have some questions in regards to how to approach a new site idea. In the past I have run several web sites that have been either forum (vbulletin) or cms (drupal, geeklog, etc) based. This is mainly because I didn't want to spend the time creating something from the ground up. Now I've reached a point that I think the ideas I have need to be created from scratch...or maybe not. That is where I'm kind of getting stuck. I want to ask a few questions. For a Online Magazine type of site, would you recommend sticking with an existing CMS or building from scratch? With this type of site, how much content should you have before you go live? When you have an idea for a site but know it's out of your scope do you hire out or spend the time learning? Any good books or links for building something from the ground up? I've read some web design books but haven't found anything covering everything from ideas to reality. Is there anyone out there that offers any type of mentoring services for this type of stuff?
It's all depends how fast you want your site to go live. I would suggest to use some kind of script to get it off the ground. There are so many open source and premium scripts out there - you should be able to find something to fit your needs. I would highly suggest to hire a professional to help you in the beginning if you can afford it. As time goes and you learn - you can customize your site more and more for unique look and feel. Building a successful website is much more than just a web design book...
If it is a hobby then both DIY or hiring is an option. To be honest, if it is going to be your main income then on a DIY approach you would have to accept that the code is initially going to be much less secure/ reliable etc than a professional site. Setting up a business, irrespective of if it is online or offline, takes time, planning and money. In most countries you can offset the build costs against any first years income to mitigate your tax liability and so effectively the cost is below that quoted.