Database setup

I am updating a site for a small company. They need a login for distributors, which have 4 levels of pricing. When the distributor logs in, their level of pricing shows and all of their information populates an order form. The customer would like to stay with Pay Pal as the shopping cart. Also, to have an option to apply for distributor pricing. Fill out information, send it to the manager for authorization. When approved, manager will input their info into database so they can order online with their new pricing. I would do updates on the site after the initial build is complete. Thanks for your consideration. I am a beginner web designer and haven't done this sort of job. ## Deliverables While talking in a forum, another user suggested I copy and paste what he wrote. The Pay Pal is questionable whether or not it will work with this database, so your suggestion is appreciated. I will update the site in dreamweaver. I am willing to learn how to add new part numbers in when available, advise is appreciated. This is what he typed: You can do the basic design and layout on Dreamweaver, but since PHP will be needed to render the pages (dynamically), the web programmer will need to "break out" your pages into templates ... where the HTML is mixed with PHP scripting. The photo galleries, catalog pages, searches, displays, login, shopping cart, ordering are all done by PHP, and the pages are rendered by PHP as it uses the database to get information and create the pages to display, using your design layout, banners, HTML, CSS and graphics. As others said, you could use Joomla to create the site. Your role would be to customize a Joomla template so the site looks the way they want it to look. The programmer would then program Joomla (the PHP and MySQL databases), plug-ins etc. The site sounds small enough to have it all coded by hand. That's what I would recommend. The next decision is important: Whatever credit card merchant they choose, you have the option to use SIM (simple integration method) where, like your current PayPal, the user leaves the website and goes into PayPal to complete the transaction (your site is not secure). You know already how clunky that looks and performs. Or, using AIM (advanced integration method) where the user never leaves your site. Your site, or at least the payment system, is on a secure server (SSL, HTTPS), and you keep track of all the customer CC information. The programs send the information to the credit card merchant using IPN ... script codes ... This method keeps the user on your site, and is seamless. But it costs money to have a secure server account, and the credit card merchant must support AIM. Thank you