Money orders are readily accepted and converted to cash, and are often used by people without access to a standard checking account. These instruments are an acceptable form of payment for small debts, both personal and business, and can be purchased for a small service fee from most institutions.

A money order is a certificate, usually issued by governments and banking institutions, that allows the stated payee to receive cash on-demand. A money order functions much like a check, in that the person who purchased the money order may stop payment.