A UPI QR code for a small shop

Generate a static code from your VPA with no amount, print it at 4 cm or larger on matt stock, put your business name in large text beside it, and check the standee at the start of every shift for a sticker pasted over it.

What you need

Just your VPA — yourname@bank — from any UPI app. No merchant account, no PSP relationship, no fee for person-to-person receipts.

If you take significant volume, a PSP-issued merchant VPA gives you settlement reports and a proper merchant category code, and is worth having. But you can start with the VPA you already have.

Generate it

Leave the amount blank. Set pn to your business name exactly as customers know it.

Make one now →

Print it properly


Code size	4 cm minimum for a 40 cm counter distance
Error correction	M (Q if adding a logo)
Finish	Matt. Never gloss
Orientation	Vertical standee, not flat on the counter
Alongside	Business name in large text, and the VPA in small text

Gloss laminate under a ceiling light reflects straight into the phone camera. This is the single most common reason a counter code "stops working".

The daily check that matters

The dominant UPI QR fraud is physical: someone pastes their own code over yours, and your takings go to them until you notice. It requires no technical skill and happens constantly.

Two defences, both free:

Look at the standee at the start of every shift. Run a finger over it — a sticker has an edge.
Print your business name large. Customers see the payee name on their confirmation screen. If it says something else, someone will mention it — but only if your real name is printed where they can compare.

Laminating the standee makes tampering more obvious, because a sticker on laminate lifts.

Multiple counters or tables

Give each its own code with a distinct tn, so settlement tells you which one was used:

upi://pay?pa=shop@upi&pn=My%20Shop&cu=INR&tn=Counter%202

Generate them together from a CSV with the bulk tool.

What it costs

Nothing. Person-to-person UPI is free. Generating the code is free. Printing is the only expense. Any service charging you for a UPI QR code is charging for a URL.

FAQ

Do I need a merchant account to accept UPI payments?

No. A personal VPA works for receiving payments. A PSP-issued merchant VPA adds settlement reporting and a proper merchant category code, which is worth having at volume.

How big should a UPI standee be?

At least 4 cm of code for a typical 40 cm counter distance — the scanning distance divided by ten.

How do I stop someone pasting their QR code over mine?

Check the standee at the start of every shift, laminate it so a sticker lifts visibly, and print your business name large so customers notice when their app shows a different payee.

Is there a fee for a UPI QR code?

No. Person-to-person UPI is free and generating the code costs nothing. Merchant transactions may carry charges under your PSP agreement.