Making a Bulletin Board System

I am trying hard to use WP to make a modern version of a bulletin board system, like Wildcat! or PCBoard. I have WP installed, and am trying to figure IT out, as well as FORUMS by Zingiri. I am also exploring a membership module from S2, Membership and Paid Membership Pro.

My biggest problem is that I am NOT a CSS/HTML programmer, so I am having a fit making the pages work. For example, I want a static opening page that will take people to signing up for a free membership first, giving limited access, then on to the BBS section.

Are there any REASONABLY priced developers out there? I cannot pay $500 or $1000 for a site, that is ridiculous. And the lack of video info, or “dummy” info is really hampering my ability to work with WP. In the old DOS days, a BBS was fairly easy to configure, now, it is FAR more complicated just making a single web page!

Thanks for your time, adn I hope to hear from folks with CONSTRUCTIVE suggestions! 🙂

Tom