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45% from pre-pandemic and alan says they re struggling to stay open, and now it s time to pay back those loans. it s very difficult. we just got over paying back the landlord. you re just a hamster spinning on a wheel. reporter: at the start of covid with business stalled, nearly 4 million install business owners took out what are called economic injury disaster loans from the federal government. on average, about $100,000. in many cases, just to stay afloat. 30 years with a fixed interest rate of 3.75%, and unlike some other pandemic programs, these loans were expected to be paid back down the road. now the first monthly payments are coming due. most businesses will owe money by the end of january. it s daunting. reporter: alan says he owes more than $3,700 per month, roughly $780,000 in all. a lot of which he says he spent on rent and payroll. we can t afford anything, but what we re doing is we re paying ....