General Information
When starting as a different race or any race check the race modifiers you'll find that the more positive modifiers are the best ways to make cash for that race. Try to pick only 1 type of infrastructure usually but some races like aminer give you a little more choice as a tip the Below is how to start for a terran and the relevant choice for this first race you will be
Research all ships so that if you are enslaved you will have starbases to break free. At this point I would recommend researching up until at the very least up to Planetary Cluster 2
Look at the Planets in the Manual .. you will notice that forests and u fertiles are the best providers of food, if you get one of those use it soley for food to feed you empire. Until then make enough food to feed them as market prices are high on RT (Real Time) and typically lower on other servers , and when starting out simpler to make it, as well as cheaper. Any food below $10 could be considered cheap, just as a rough guide.
To see what you empire consumes and produces click on Income, and from there Production of Food and Goods
Some terrans prefer to just research agri, which is a fast way to make money on real time but not as effective on turn based though some older empires who control food market have much success and get to richest list, if the food market holds and if people buy it when you need it. It's a choice thing for terran agri or commercial.