They have called for a financial package to help them navigate the rest of restrictions, claiming they have slipped through the net of various Covid-19 executive grants schemes.
Sanjay Khanna, who owns a dry cleaner and launderette in Belfast city centre, said the current lockdown has been the worst, with business down 80%."Currently we're all open but there's nothing happening, we're running at a loss, we're paying for power, light, heat whatever it may be, but there's just no business out there at the moment."
Mr Khanna said most dry cleaners fall short of that threshold because their custom comes from a variety of sources, with the closures of hospitality outlets just one of many reasons their turnover has plummeted. "For our industry to survive it would need some sort of financial package in place that the businesses can carry on, regardless of what's coming through the door," he said.
"80% of our business has gone. We've appealed to the executive to put in some sort of financial package - that has fallen on deaf ears at the moment."