Easy Edit Templates

I'm not sure what to search for here so I'm hoping somebody can help guide me in the right direction.

Problem:
A client I was speaking with asked me to make him a website that he can edit anytime, he has no web programming knowledge.

He wants me to find/create something for him to be able update his website.

I'm pretty new to web development myself and am not sure what kind of resources are available for this.

Thanks guys

I usually set up a little administrative section so that the client can add their own news and whatever else they need using PHP and MySQL.

What kind of site are making for them? What info do they need to change?

Well he wants a basic site to show his business is legit.

With Overview section, Contacts, Rental Homes, business partners.
Just information about him and what he does.

He wants to be able to change any information. So I build it and he can edit anything he wants with no more of my time.

He wants me to do this for about $400 - 800 max or about 6-12 hours on my time. I told him I wouldn't be able to do this job for that amount if I couldn't find something that is already setup like this for him.

Do you know of tools that are uber user friendly for things like this?
I'm not going to rack my brain to create something like this for that amount.

It is called a CMS (Content Management System) I also do as Karrine does and build my own CMS. I find it is much more effective and works the way I want it to. But there are some FREE already made ones...here is my favorite.

CMSimple

It is very very customizable, you just create a style sheet for it an dyou are good to go.

Thanks Jacob.

How much time does it take to build something like that?

Depends on how good you are at coding and also all of those little extra's you decided to though in there. I can normally finish one in about 2 hours...and I am pretty fast...so probably about 3 for you.

I have a few friends who have just spent 4 months coding a custom cms. They can be extremely time consuming if you want true freedom for the client/user. But if it's just for content then it shouldn't be too bad. If you've never used php or mysql then good luck. You'll need a good guide and plenty of perseverance.

php.net is good site for (lots) more info.

Pete.

Like Jacob and Pete said ... it basically depends on how many bells and whistles you want to add.

The only way you'll know is by learning it and having fun testing it out

Also you could find another CMS and base your code off of it. I know when I start building a CMS now, I still base my code off of a CMS I already built...because ti took me so long to build. So that is how I can output a CMS so fast...lol

That is what I figured.
I've done lots of development for Windows Applications.

I'll probably just use that one if this guy doesn't want me to do the work, I'll be alright.

Thanks everybody