Most people mine silver to get started... others get a loan and start trading to pay it back.
There are other opportunities out there if you look hard enough. Take a look at this: Deliveries & special orders for LL Rhodes. Looks like fun and a good way to earn some cash for players < lvl 30.
escort traders, with any ship you have. RP with them, etc (as long as they RP as well). They usualy give you something back in the end, just for the company
Talk to any [IND] member in game about what King just suggested... Infact, if you ever see [IND]Jihad.Trader about thats me. I will gladly pay for escort from under level characters. Great roleplay and a damned good introduction to the server. Damned good idea David. Here, have some win.
I remember the time I just started out my Freelancer character. I escorted a .:j:. transport around Sirius a bit, RPed, had a very good time, and he paid me in total 20 million credits.
You just need to come across the right person / job.
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<span style="color:#000000">All morons hate it when you call them a moron.