I want to start a small engraving business and i was wanting to go online with it. I have very basic knowledge(3 weeks of tinkering) of what is needed to be done to place a business online. I know how to make a site the way i want it to look but im having trouble making the site DO what im wanting it to do. what i am stuck on is placing a message box(what to engrave) that can hold a page fulll of text with a few options under the box(for which the customer can choose the design) which im going to receive once payment is complete. would i need to learn how to use SQL or something? thanks for whatever responses i receive.

You could do this with a fairly simple php, no SQL would be required

Yes you need to learn php,mysql , check php.net and w3schools.com .