If you create your written/graphical content using Word and then print it to an Adobe PDF file using either one of the Adobe programs or another cheaper utility, you'll do okay. If you can afford Adobe InDesign or PageMaker to do your typesetting etc, then you'll be even better off, but the learning time line is longer and the programs, although better than Word, are expensive.
There are alternatives to PDF, but I haven't heard many people say that anything is better. Each of the delivery options comes with advantages and disadvantages and PDF isn't any different, but it has a greater number of advantages over programs such as the HTML compilers, many of which only work with Internet Explorer 4 etc.
Good luck with your venture. ZIP your files when you place them on your site pending download so they can't be read by robots and search engine.