I'm a student, and I build these myself. Nobody is subcontracting your site to someone you'll never speak to, and nobody is selling you a retainer you don't need.
That's also why the front page comes first and costs you nothing. I'd rather hand you something real and let you judge it than ask you to take my word for anything.
What I believe about this
Three opinions, held honestly
You should own everything
Your domain, your files, your hosting account. Plenty of web shops keep that on their own accounts so leaving is expensive. I think that's a lousy way to run a business, and it's the first thing I'd check about anyone you hire, including me.
A small site should be small
A shop with a phone number and opening hours does not need a content management system, a cookie banner, or five megabytes of JavaScript. It needs to load instantly on a bad phone signal and say the right things.
Prices should be public
Anyone who won't tell you the number until they've had you on a call is deciding what to charge based on how much they think you'll pay.
Straight answer
Why I'm cheaper than an agency
Because I'm early on, I have no office and no staff, and I'm building a portfolio. That's the whole reason. The work is careful and the prices will go up once I've done more of it, so if you're reading this now, you're getting the early rate.
If you'd rather just talk, call 732-963-5333. I answer my own phone.