How do I find (and trust) programmers to create it?
You can find them on freelancing platforms but you're also in the right forum that has a lot of talented programmers.
How much would it cost to develop if I want it to grow organically and under the radar?
The amount of work can be assessed and the pay will depend on how much effort and task you need to do. But if that's all about building up a platform, you need a huge budget for it. Developing and growing it naturally are two different tasks. You may hire another team to build and grow it as you monitor it but much better if you'll be part of it.
What steps should I take first?
I'm guessing an Eth token would be the cheapest and easiest to start?
Planning is always the first phase. If you just want to create a new token, ask yourself why you need to do it.