How much should white hair cost?

I currently have light brown hair down to my bust that has never been died before. I'm wanting to take it to white. I honestly don't trust myself with the bleach because I've never done anything to my hair before. I much rather do it professionally. However I don't want to pay an arm and a leg. I have visited some local beauty shops. The first one gave me the price $80-$90 but I didn't feel reinsured that they would make sure my hair would not get eaten by bleach. The next told me $130 however they didn't take the time to tell me how we can protect my hair. It is a big fear of mine that my hair will get way to fried. The last place I went to I loved. They took their time to explain to me what kind of process I would need to take to get what I was looking for. The down side is it will be $180 and that might not even get me to a white but just an extremely light blonde. What would be a reasonable price for white hair?