A Template or static site is one that is written in HTML only.

Each page is like a separate document and there is no database developed for it to draw on.

What this means for functionality is that the only way that the site can be edited or updated is to

go into each page and edit the HTML. So you'd either have to do it yourself using a webpage editor

like FrontPage if you have the time and the knowledge or pay the original development company

to go back into the HTML and edit the site each and every time you wanted something changed.

This is the essence of a Low Cost website. Easy to get started but more costly to maintain.

The alternative option is the following;

A dynamic content management site.
 

A dynamic website is written using a more developed complex code and can  allow the client do a

lot more.

For instance, an administrative log in box can be created and allow a client to enter into the

administration of the website backend.

This is the area where one can change various parts of the site after he has signed in,such as

adding/removing information or products and prices.

This is because each page is constructed based on the information in a database,and the

information in that database can be changed via another interface.

The dynamic sites usually cost more to develop, as they require more complex coding and

developing.

A content management system needs to be developed to help you manage your website

information.

But in the long run dynamic sites are much more cost effective and easier to maintain.

Another benefit of dynamic sites is that they allow you to change only the content of the site

and not the design, so you will not be able to accidentally break the visual style of the site.

They have other benefits when sites start to get very large, as they make data management much

more efficient and your site more expandable.

Many clients do a combination, having some dynamic areas such as a product catalog where they

have to change information or pictures regularly, and leave other pages such as contact

information as static pages.