Any viable corporation in the United States can apply for and obtain a license to sell its own money orders.  It is a very similar process to obtaining a liquor license.  Once a license has been obtained in the state, the company can sell money orders anywhere in the state. 

The way the money order program has been structured in the past, a retailer profits from a fee charged at the point of sales less any transaction fees.  The retailer must assume all of the risk including the need to remit the entire face amount of the money order after it is sold, whether it has cleared the bank or not. 

That has all been changed now that 3T has provided the Total Solution.