Dublin businesses lost up to £18 million this week through the transport strikes and could lose a further £30 million next week if the proposed Dublin Bus strike goes ahead, according to the Small Firms' Association. Mr Pat Delaney, director of the SFA, said the figures included losses to retail businesses and suppliers.
Sales and supplies in perishable goods had been particularly down and he said if the strike went ahead next week, losses would be substantially higher, due to loss in inventory for suppliers.
He added that the effect on business next week would be catastrophic.
"I honestly feel we will be facing layoffs in some sectors if there is a strike next week," he said.
Mr Delaney said businesses had lost £43 million since the bus strikes began in February.
The employers' organisation, IBEC, estimated the daily loss in sales in Dublin this week was over £5 million.
The Dublin Chamber of Commerce said retailers experienced a decrease in sales of between 10 and 20 per cent this week.
However, Mr Ed O'Neill of the chamber of commerce said in shopping areas frequented by low-income families, retailers had experienced even greater losses.
This was because low-income families tended to be more dependent on public transport, he said.
Mr O'Neill said figures for retailers could average out with people putting off buying some items until the weekend. But those selling perishable goods and Mother's Day gifts would not regain the losses, he added.
Outside Dublin, businesses were inconvenienced by the strike through employees turning up late for work, according to Mr Malcolm Byrne, of the Chamber of Commerce of Ireland.
In Galway and Waterford, where private buses operate, sales decreased only slightly.