Some people hold sales so frequently, according to officials around the country, that neighbors complain to city hall that they are running unlicensed businesses on their lawns.

There was nothing good-natured about these outraged replies - attempts to justify their admittedly unlicensed business and perhaps drum up some more.

Mr. Parchment said his department had recently sent letters to the unlicensed businesses threatening prosecution.

Mr. Curtis, enterprising and charismatic, says he runs an unlicensed but popular business selling exotic vegetables and other foods shipped to him from abroad.

The business, however, becomes short-lived when Joe is forced to shut him down for having an unlicensed business.

Charges include money laundering, conspiracy and operating unlicensed money-transmitting businesses.

In September 2006 the government destroyed all unlicensed businesses and buildings and, for a short time afterwards, Palolem was very much down in the dumps.

Or to avoid hassles, they open an unlicensed business - perhaps a bed-and-breakfast, instead of a hotel.

And in hunting for unlicensed businesses, they have uncovered many more than they expected.

He paused and leveled an accusing finger at J.R. "Then there are 'innocent citizens' like your buddy here, who admits he's running an illegal, unlicensed business.