As an individual you can consider a free blogging platform to start with, but I would urge you to check if the URL matching your chosen blog name URL is available. If not-consider changing the name. Don’t fuss to much about a ‘dot com’ id in today’s times of powerful search even a ‘dot in’ would work well and may sometimes be more relevant. If possible block the URL – it costs just a few hundred Rupees but then you won’t have to worry about availability, if the blog takes off and you wish to move to your own domain name.
Any platform you choose today will give you dozens of template options to pick from – go ahead and use any – you can change them at any point in time.
If you are a corporate or a big brand, you blog will prove to be a very important communication tool, internally and externally, do ensure that it lives the personality of your brand. Spend sometime and money, work with professionals who could help you on usability, customization, design, valueadds based on your needs and indeed with advice on what you can do with a blog. Remember, a blog is just a tool, what you do with it is what makes it powerful or useless.