Where do I begin creating a service status indicator for a website?

I coded a website for our business (a small computer store) and would like to have some kind of status for services we are working on. I am thinking of it as a simple search box that would somehow search a textfile? database? for a last name and return either the string "In Process" or "Completed". I can handle html/css no problem but have to idea where to or how to begin here and am not farmiliar with databases but am more than willing to learn if need be. Also need it to to be simple to update on my end, such as editing an html file and uploading or something. Thanks.