Starting new SEO/ORM website..

Hey guys, I have set myself a goal to set up and start my SEO/ORM website this month... But i've seen many different variations of these websites many offering a broad range of services, whilst other's stick to only a few and the rest specializing.

What I am trying to find out is what are the main front and back end features of a website like this. As in; is it better to use a wordpress theme, or should i build something using pure HTML?

I'd also like to find out about things such as how to accept payment, what to use to invoice clients etc...

I have already got a company to outsource all the SEO work from, but it is just my actual website that I am confused with.

All suggestions appreciated, thanks

Basically you can use wordpress, html or whatever you want, it really depends how much time do you want to spend on creating your website.
For accepting payments and/or requests for quotes it is really simple to use wufoo. Of course live chat software would be great to have as well.

You can get payment gateways integrated in the site for different payment options.

i just want to say that the site should be simple. No exaggeration. And sticking with the special parts of SEO will decrease the rate of your order. so i think its better to add all the things that you can do or provide to your customers. As you have said that you have the SEO company so its better to add all the things that you can provide.

Just use Wordpress unless you want to have a custom backend for your clients to login with. I use a Wordpress for my offline business and it works just fine. Most businesses don't even know what a CMS is so they won't know the difference.

I would say stick to one service your comfortable in, until you know in yourself you can start offering other services, beside when you have an enquiry for a job, you do get customers who would ask if you can kill a donkey for them? if you think you cant do it but know someone you can outsource it to.

Say yes you can kill the donkey and outsource it and keep the differences.

For invoicing use freshbooks, for receiving payment, checks, wire transfer, paypal, google checkout, 2checkout, pick your choice

Website platform stick with wordspress or html, make it fucking simple. Goodluck

plimus or 2checkout for payments, wordpress for site setup. and don't forget to find the way you could get your customers. it's pretty much 90% of success.