How to Create a UPI QR Code for Your Business (Free)

A UPI QR code is one of the most practical things a small business can have. A customer scans it with any UPI app — Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM, Amazon Pay — and the payment goes directly into your bank account. No card machine, no POS terminal, no monthly fees, no percentage cut. It works instantly, and the money arrives in your account immediately.

You don't need a merchant account, a business registration, or approval from any payment gateway to create a basic UPI QR code. You just need your UPI ID. This guide explains how it works and how to create and deploy one in a few minutes.

How UPI QR codes work

UPI (Unified Payments Interface) uses a Virtual Payment Address — usually written as yourname@bankname or your mobile number — as the identifier for your bank account. This address is called your UPI ID or VPA (Virtual Payment Address). When a customer scans your QR code, their UPI app reads the VPA encoded in the QR and automatically fills in the payment destination. The customer just enters the amount and confirms with their UPI PIN.

The QR code itself is just a machine-readable version of a UPI payment link. The standard format is a URI that looks like: upi://pay?pa=yourname@bank&pn=Your+Name. You can also pre-fill the amount (useful if you have a fixed-price product or service), though most merchant QR codes leave the amount blank so the customer enters what they owe.

Every Indian gets a UPI ID automatically when they link their bank account to any UPI app. Find yours by opening Google Pay or PhonePe → Profile → Your UPI ID. It usually looks like yourname@okaxis or 9876543210@ybl.

Creating your UPI QR code

1. Open the OurTools QR Code Generator.
2. Select "UPI" from the QR type dropdown (or select "Text/URL" and enter the UPI URI manually: upi://pay?pa=yourUPIID&pn=YourName).
3. Enter your UPI ID in the format yourname@bankshortcode. Add your name as it should appear to payers.
4. Optionally, add a fixed amount if you're creating a QR for a specific product or fixed-price service. Leave blank for variable amounts.
5. Click Generate. Download the QR code as a PNG (for printing or WhatsApp sharing) or SVG (for larger print sizes without quality loss).

Where to use your UPI QR code

Print it and display at your counter

Print the QR code at a minimum of 10×10 cm (bigger is better for customers scanning from 30–50 cm away). Laminate it or put it in a clear plastic holder on your counter, billing desk, or entrance. Label it with your business name and a note saying "Scan to pay via GPay / PhonePe / Paytm / any UPI app".

For best print quality, download the SVG version of the QR code and print from that. SVG is vector-based and stays sharp at any size, while PNG can look pixelated when printed large. If you only have the PNG, make sure it's at least 600×600 pixels before printing at 10cm size.

Share it on WhatsApp and social media

Send the QR code image to customers on WhatsApp when they ask for payment details. This is useful for home delivery, online orders, and services where you invoice remotely. The customer saves the image, opens Google Pay or PhonePe, selects "Scan QR", and points at the saved image in their gallery — most UPI apps can scan QR codes from saved images without needing to point the camera at a physical printout.

Add it to your invoices

If you send PDF invoices, embed the QR code image directly in the invoice. The customer can scan it from the PDF open on their screen. This reduces the friction of manually entering your UPI ID and the risk of them typing it wrong. Use the OurTools Invoice Generator to create GST-compliant invoices where you can include your UPI QR code as a payment method.

Put it on your visiting card or standee

A QR code on a visiting card or banner makes payment easy at events, exhibitions, or pop-up stalls. Anyone who keeps your card has your payment QR with them at all times.

Static vs dynamic UPI QR codes

A static QR code (what the QR generator creates) encodes a fixed UPI ID. The amount is either blank (customer enters it) or fixed (every scan pays the same amount). This is free to create and works for any merchant.

A dynamic QR code generates a new QR for each transaction with the exact amount pre-filled and a unique transaction reference. Banks, POS systems, and billing software generate dynamic QR codes. This requires integration with a payment gateway (Razorpay, Paytm for Business, etc.) and is more appropriate for larger businesses that need automatic payment reconciliation.

For a small shop, food stall, freelancer, tutor, or service provider, a static QR code is almost always sufficient. The customer scans, types the amount, pays. You get a notification on your UPI app instantly.

What to do when a payment comes in

You'll receive a notification from your UPI app for each payment. Always check it before handing over goods or starting a service. Don't rely only on what the customer shows you on their phone — a screenshot can be forged. A real payment notification appears on your phone from your bank or UPI app, not from anything the customer controls.

For higher-value transactions, check your bank account balance or UPI transaction history rather than just the notification, which can occasionally fail to deliver if your phone is on low signal.

Merchant accounts for higher transaction limits

Basic UPI (personal account) has per-transaction limits — typically ₹1 lakh per day for most banks. If your business regularly receives payments above this, you'll need a UPI merchant account through your bank or through a payment gateway. These have higher limits and also provide business analytics, automated reconciliation, and GST reports. Google Pay for Business, PhonePe for Business, and Paytm for Business all offer merchant accounts that are free to open.

For a small or new business just getting started with digital payments, a personal UPI QR code is the fastest way to begin accepting payments. You can upgrade to a merchant account later as the volume justifies it.

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