There's a variety of missions, private investigations. delivering cargo, etc to various locations in the universe. It's all dangerous work as you may come up against pirates both human and AI. Those with slow or lightly armoured ships are at a bit of a disadvantage. There is a way however, of making money just by trading commodities between different hubs of the starting spawn Port Olisar. It'a a bit of a sweaty option, but it's an option if you're having money worries, and you don't even need to get in your ship.