Money Transmitter License Options in the US, a Faisal Khan LLC client briefing sheet issued August 2026, lays out the four pathways a company can take to move money legally in the United States. Its opening framing: "you want to move money in the United States. Before you spend a dollar, understand this page."
Three facts anchor the whole document. There is no federal money transmitter license — FinCEN MSB registration is compliance, not a license to operate, and transmission is licensed state by state. The flow of funds decides which path applies: if money comes to you, through you, or under your control before reaching someone else, you are inside the licensing perimeter. And the filing fee is the smallest cost — bonds, net worth, audited financials and compliance staff are what actually add up.
What the guide covers:
- API / white-label: live in 1–4 weeks, low four-to-five-figure setup, but you stay out of the flow of funds entirely
- Authorized agent / delegate: live in 3–8 weeks, $15,000–$50,000 setup plus $100,000–$500,000 capital — "where most of our clients start"
- Own licenses: one state in 3–12 months for $30,000–$100,000+; national coverage takes 18–24 months and seven figures
- Buying a licensed company: change-of-control approval in 2–6 months, purchase price $1M–$5M+, with the full inherited compliance history
- A side-by-side comparison of regulated operator, time to market, and monthly recurring cost across all four paths
- Why $75,000 in readily available funds is described as the practical minimum to act on any pathway