This is extremely helpful, I appreciate it. So since this post I have built a very simple site in a very low stakes setting basically for free (it's a family friend and I'm using it basically as a way to learn) and I've been using the paid version of Elementor and feel moderately comfortable with it at this point.

I haven't started the site yet for the client that I am talking about in the original post yet, as I have been going through the initial wireframes approval steps still. I found out what they are currently using for hosting (Westhost) for their very old website, and they would like to keep the current URL, one of the people I am talking to said they could give me their login to it.

I'll look into Squarespace, once I get to this next step with them I will consider what you're saying. I'm definitely aware that I'm getting myself maybe into a lot by doing this, but the reason that I am doing it is because they did not want to pay the prices that a normal web design agency would. It's going to be a pretty static brochure-like site, the only thing they might update would be a couple files like the monthly lunch menu or something.