How to Create a UPI QR Code for Your Shop or Business
Create a UPI QR code for your shop: the UPI payment link format, static vs dynamic QR, printing tips, and how to protect yourself from fake QR fraud.
A UPI QR code at the counter lets any customer pay you from any UPI app in seconds, with no card machine and no fees for most small merchants on standard UPI payments. You can get one from your bank or a payment app, or generate your own from your UPI ID. This guide explains how UPI QR codes work, the difference between static and dynamic codes, how to print one that scans reliably, and how to avoid the most common frauds.
Create yours now: the free UPI QR Code Generator turns your UPI ID and business name into a printable QR code, with an optional fixed amount. It runs in your browser.
How a UPI QR code works
A UPI QR code simply stores a payment link in a standard format defined by NPCI. When a customer scans it, their UPI app reads the link, fills in your UPI ID and name, and asks them to confirm the amount and enter their UPI PIN. The money goes directly from their bank account to yours.
A basic UPI link looks like this:
upi://pay?pa=sharmastore@okaxis&pn=Sharma%20General%20Store&cu=INR
| Parameter | Meaning | Required? |
|---|---|---|
pa | Payee address: your UPI ID (VPA) | Yes |
pn | Payee name, URL-encoded (spaces as %20) | Yes, in practice |
am | Amount, for example 250.00; the customer cannot change it | Optional |
cu | Currency, always INR | Recommended |
tn | Transaction note, such as an invoice number | Optional |
tr, mc | Transaction reference and merchant category code, used by registered merchants | Only if your bank provides them |
Do not invent merchant codes or references; leave them out unless your bank or payment provider has given them to you.
Static vs dynamic QR codes
| Point | Static QR | Dynamic QR |
|---|---|---|
| What it contains | Your UPI ID and name; amount entered by the customer | UPI ID, exact amount and a unique reference for one bill |
| Where it is used | Printed standee at a shop counter | Shown on a billing screen, POS or invoice |
| Reconciliation | Manual; match payments by time and amount | Automatic; each payment links to a bill |
| Error risk | Customer may type the wrong amount | Amount is fixed |
| Set-up | Free and instant | Needs billing software or a payment provider |
For most small shops, a printed static QR is enough. If you send invoices, add a QR with the exact amount and invoice number in the note. The GST Invoice Generator can include a UPI QR on the invoice.
Personal vs business UPI accounts
You can generate a QR from a personal UPI ID, but for regular shop collections a merchant (business) UPI account from your bank or a payment provider is better. It gives you a business name on the customer's screen, sound-box alerts, settlement reports and fewer limits on incoming payments. Banks and apps may restrict heavy business use of personal accounts. Check with your bank.
Step by step
- Find your UPI ID in your UPI app's profile (it looks like name@bank).
- Open the UPI QR Code Generator and enter the UPI ID and business name exactly as registered with the bank.
- Leave the amount blank for a counter QR, or enter one for a specific bill.
- Download as PNG or PDF.
- Test before printing: scan it with two or three different apps (for example PhonePe, Google Pay and Paytm) and check that your correct name appears. Make a ₹1 test payment.
Printing tips
- Print at least 7–10 cm square for a counter standee so it scans from arm's length; larger for a wall.
- Keep black on white with a clear margin (quiet zone) around the code. Avoid coloured backgrounds and busy designs.
- Print your business name and UPI ID in text under the code so customers can pay manually if scanning fails.
- Laminate it or use a rigid acrylic standee; creases and glare cause scan failures.
- Place it where it is well lit and within easy reach, and keep a spare copy.
If the QR code will not scan
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Camera cannot focus | Print it larger, or ask customers to hold the phone a little further away. |
| Glare on laminated sheet | Use matt lamination or tilt the standee away from overhead lights. |
| App shows an error or "invalid QR" | Check the UPI ID for typos and regenerate; avoid special characters in the name. |
| Wrong or unexpected name appears | Stop using the code immediately and check whether it has been tampered with or linked to the wrong account. |
| Payments fail for some customers | Their bank or app may be facing downtime, or your account may have hit a limit; ask your bank. |
Sharing your QR online
You can also send the QR image on WhatsApp or print it on invoices, menus and delivery bills. Customers paying from the same phone can save the image and use their UPI app's "scan from gallery" option. Always write your UPI ID and business name beside it, so the customer can verify the name before paying.
Safety tips against QR fraud
For shopkeepers
- Check your QR daily. Fraudsters sometimes paste their own QR sticker over a shop's code. Scan yours with the QR Scanner or any UPI app and confirm the name shown is yours.
- Never trust a payment screenshot. Confirm payment only by the sound box, an SMS from your bank or your bank app's transaction history. Fake payment apps and edited screenshots are common.
- You never need to scan a QR or enter your PIN to receive money. If a "customer" or "buyer" asks you to scan a code or approve a request to receive payment, it is a scam.
- Do not share OTPs or UPI PINs with anyone claiming to be from your bank or a payment app.
For customers
- Before entering your PIN, check that the name on screen matches the shop.
- Entering your UPI PIN always means money is leaving your account.
- Be wary of QR codes received on WhatsApp or social media that promise refunds, prizes or cashback.
If you are defrauded, call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 immediately, report at cybercrime.gov.in, and inform your bank. Speed matters for freezing the money. NPCI publishes safety guidance on npci.org.in.
Need a general-purpose QR for your website, menu or Wi-Fi? Use the QR Code Generator.
Get paid faster: generate and print your counter code with the free UPI QR Code Generator, and test it with a ₹1 payment before you put it up.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a UPI QR code from my UPI ID?
Yes. A UPI QR code simply encodes a payment link containing your UPI ID and name. Generate it, then test it with a small payment from a few different apps before printing.
What is the difference between a static and a dynamic UPI QR?
A static QR contains only your UPI ID and name, and the customer enters the amount. A dynamic QR is created for one bill and includes the exact amount and a reference.
Do I need to scan a QR code to receive money?
No. You never need to scan a QR or enter your UPI PIN to receive money. Anyone asking you to do so is attempting fraud.
How do I confirm a customer has actually paid?
Check your sound box, bank SMS or the transaction history in your bank app. Do not rely on a screenshot shown by the customer.
Where can I report UPI fraud?
Call the cybercrime helpline 1930, file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in, and inform your bank immediately.