The short answer
A QR code can open a payment page or tip link that you create with your payment provider. QR Maker does not process payments or hold funds. Print it 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in) wide at the till, show your business name beside it, and check regularly that nobody has stuck a different code over it. That tampering is the main risk.
How to make a QR code for payments or tips
Create the payment link with your provider
Use your payment provider’s hosted link or tip page (for example a payment link from your processor). Confirm it shows your business name and the right currency.
Encode that link
Paste the link into a URL code. A dynamic code lets you update the link if your provider or the amount changes, without reprinting the counter card.
Print and label it
Print at least 4 cm wide with your business name and “Pay here” or “Leave a tip”. A visible name helps customers check they are on the right page.
Mount it so it cannot be covered
Put the code in a frame, under a clear cover, or on a stand you can see from behind the counter, not on a free-standing sticker that anyone can overlay.
Inspect it on a schedule
Check the code daily at opening. If you see a sticker or a code that is not yours, remove it and scan your own to confirm the destination.
Size, distance and placement
- What the code holds
- A link to a payment or tip page created with your provider
- What QR Maker does
- Opens the link. It does not process payments or store card details
- Counter card
- Read at 30–60 cm: 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in)
- Visible identity
- Your business name beside the code, so customers can compare it with the page that opens
- Mounting
- Framed or covered, in sight of staff; not a loose sticker
- Checks
- Inspect at opening and closing; scan your own code and read the payee name
- Changes
- Update the destination if you switch provider
Static or dynamic for payments?
Either can work, but the safety question matters more than the type. A dynamic code is easier to manage because you can change the payment link without replacing the printed card. It also counts scans, so a sudden change in the pattern is a hint to inspect the counter. A static code holds the link in its pattern and cannot be redirected, which some owners prefer for a single permanent payment page. In both cases, do not rely on a loose sticker.
Common mistakes
Tip: tell customers what to expect: “Scanning opens a page showing Maple Street Coffee”. When people know what the page should say, a fake page stands out.
Frequently asked questions
Can QR Maker take payments?
No. A QR Maker code opens a page you create with your payment provider. Payments are handled by that provider, not by us.
How do I stop someone covering my payment QR code?
Mount it in a frame or under a clear cover where staff can see it, check it daily, and print your business name beside it so customers can verify the page.
Should a payment QR code be static or dynamic?
Both work. Dynamic is easier to update and counts scans; static holds the link in the pattern. What matters more is how you mount and check it.
How big should the code be at the till?
About 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in) wide, dark on light, readable at counter distance.