TL;DR
You can usually create a UPI QR code for your shop without paying a setup fee. Use your bank’s merchant app or a UPI business app, link the account that receives shop payments, download the QR and test it. Check payment confirmation on your own app or bank account before handing over goods. A basic printed QR works for one counter; separate codes and reports become useful when you add staff, branches or more orders.
What Does a Shop Need From a UPI QR Code?
A shop needs three things from a QR code: customers should be able to scan it with a standard UPI app, payments should reach the right account, and the shopkeeper should be able to confirm the money arrived. For a single counter, a printed merchant QR often covers those needs without hardware or a monthly plan.
One UPI QR generally works across UPI apps, so you do not need a separate code for customers using PhonePe, Google Pay or BHIM. The code is tied to a UPI ID and its associated collection account. What matters is whose name the customer sees before paying and how you check the credit afterward.
Three Ways to Get a UPI QR Code for Your Shop
| Option | Cost to create | Useful when | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| QR in a personal UPI app | Usually free | You are testing a very small selling activity | The displayed name may be yours rather than the shop’s. Check your bank and app terms for business collections, and keep business records separate. |
| Merchant QR from a bank or UPI business app | Usually free to generate, subject to provider terms | You have one counter and want payments in your shop’s name | Complete merchant onboarding if required; check how the app shows alerts, refunds and transaction history. |
| QR from a payment provider | Check the provider’s current pricing | You need several codes, staff access, branch reports or automated reconciliation | Compare setup, payment charges, settlement timing and reporting before signing up. |
For most small shops, start with a merchant QR from the bank or business app you already use. A personal QR may work for a limited test, but a merchant QR makes it easier to display the shop’s registered name and separate business payments. A free code to create does not automatically mean every payment will remain free under future merchant pricing rules.
How to Create and Test a Free Merchant UPI QR Code
- Choose the receiving account. Use the account where you want shop payments to arrive, ideally one you use separately from household spending.
- Find the business QR option. Open your bank’s merchant app or a UPI business app. Look for “Business QR”, “Merchant QR” or a similar option. Follow its instructions to add your shop details and complete any required verification.
- Download and test the code. Scan it from a different UPI-linked account or ask someone you trust to make a ₹1 test payment. Check the name shown to the payer and verify that the money appears on your side.
- Print and place it carefully. Make the code large enough to scan comfortably, avoid glare or folds, and check regularly that nobody has placed another QR sticker over it.
- Confirm each payment yourself. Use your own merchant app, payment dashboard or bank transaction record before handing over goods. A customer’s screenshot or success screen is not proof that you received the money. Read more about fake payment screenshot scams.
If a payment is marked pending, wait for confirmation in your own records instead of asking the customer to pay again immediately. Record the transaction reference so you can resolve it with your bank or provider if necessary.
Also read: How to spot fake UPI payment apps and QR-related scams
Should You Use a Static or Dynamic QR Code?
A static QR code can be printed once and used for many payments. The customer normally enters the amount. This is convenient for a counter that does not create a separate digital bill for each sale.
A dynamic QR code is generated for a particular transaction, usually with the amount already filled in. It can reduce amount-entry mistakes and help a billing system match a payment to an order. A phone-based softPOS can display a dynamic QR at the counter. For a customer ordering remotely, a payment link may be simpler than sending a photo of a counter QR. The guide to merchant QR codes compares the two types in more detail.
Also read: How QR code payments work for businesses
Are UPI QR Payments Free for Shops in October 2026?
As of 21 October 2026, the planned 15 October rollout of a new UPI merchant discount rate (MDR) has been postponed. A revised effective date has not been announced. NPCI’s announced framework describes 0.4% MDR for eligible person-to-merchant payments above ₹2,000, capped at ₹300 for payments of ₹75,000 or more. It also describes exemptions for smaller transactions and eligible small merchants. The scheduled date in that document was superseded by the deferment; check the latest NPCI announcement and your bank or QR provider before making a pricing decision. A report of NPCI’s deferment confirms that the new date will be notified separately.
| Question | What to check now |
|---|---|
| Does it cost anything to generate my merchant QR? | Many banks and business apps offer QR creation without a setup fee. Check your provider’s terms. |
| What will I pay when a customer scans it? | Check the charges currently shown by your bank or provider for your merchant category and payment method. Do not assume the postponed framework is already active. |
| Am I covered by a small-merchant exemption when the new rules start? | Ask your acquiring bank or provider how your shop is classified and whether you meet the final conditions. |
A customer’s UPI transaction limit is a separate issue from what a merchant pays to accept a transaction.
When Does a Basic Free QR Stop Being Enough?
A printed merchant QR may be enough for one counter. Consider more structured collection when:
- you have several counters, branches or franchisees and need to see which location collected each payment;
- staff take payments and you need reliable confirmation on your own system;
- matching bank credits to bills takes time every evening; or
- you sell in the shop and online and need consistent records.
Cashfree’s UPI QR code for businesses lets a business create distinct printable codes for units and see their collections in a dashboard. Its product page also describes webhook notifications, split settlements, zero transaction cost and settlements within 30 minutes. Check the current commercial and eligibility terms for your account, especially when the postponed MDR rules take effect. For a wider look at counters, QR and online checkout, see the guide to retail payment processing.
How Do You Set Up Cashfree UPI QR?
Cashfree’s published setup flow is to sign up, upload the documents required to activate Auto Collect, create a UPI virtual payment address for each unit through the dashboard or API, generate its QR code, and download it for display. Confirm the precise steps and access for your account before planning a rollout to several locations.
Also read: Accepting online payments without a website or app
Conclusion
You do not need hardware or a developer to start with a merchant UPI QR. Generate one through your bank or business app, test where it pays, and check each credit before completing a sale. If staff or multiple locations make reconciliation difficult, compare providers on reporting, settlement timing and current charges before moving to a managed QR setup.
Need separate UPI QR codes for your shop locations?
Talk to our team about branch-level collection, payment confirmation, reporting and the current terms for Cashfree UPI QR.
Explore Cashfree UPI QRFrequently Asked Questions
How do I create a UPI QR code for my shop for free?
Open a bank merchant app or UPI business app, link the account for shop collections, complete any required verification and download the merchant QR. Make a small test payment from a different account and check the credit on your side. Ask the provider about any charges beyond code creation.
Can I use a personal UPI QR for my shop?
It may work for a small test, but the payer may see your personal name and the payments may be harder to keep separate from household transactions. Check the terms of your bank and app, and use a merchant QR for ongoing shop collections.
Do I need a separate QR for each UPI app?
No. Customers can normally scan a standard UPI QR with any supported UPI app. You may want separate QR codes for different branches or counters so you can track collections by location.
Will I be charged 0.4% on shop UPI payments now?
Do not treat the planned 15 October 2026 start date as active. The rollout was postponed, and a new date was still unannounced on 21 October 2026. Check the latest rules and your provider’s current pricing and merchant classification.
How do I know the customer’s payment actually arrived?
Check the transaction in your own bank or merchant app and match the amount to the sale. Do not rely solely on a screenshot, a sound from the customer’s phone or a “successful” screen they show you.
Is a static QR enough for more than one counter?
It can collect payments, but using one code for several counters makes it harder to tell where each payment came from. Separate codes and location-level reports are useful when you need to reconcile each counter or branch.
