One of the early game techniques to build up some money is simply to do some fishing with Joyce the Fishmonger. Equip something that boosts Foraging, sail the ocean on North Shore which has no enemies, and you can get a few hundred gold without too much issue. Transfer any followers out of the party so you don't have to pay them upkeep while you do so.
Recruiting followers at low levels will also be cheaper in the next 0.2.x update when it reaches a public release.