A QR code on your counter, menu, delivery bag or business card lets customers reach you with one tap of their camera. No typing a long web address, no searching for your page. You can make one for free in under a minute. This guide covers what to link to, how to make it, and how to print it so it scans every time.

Ideas: what your QR code can open

Link the QR code to…Good for
Your Facebook, Instagram or TikTok pageGetting followers who see your new products and offers
A WhatsApp chat with your business numberOrders and questions. Use a link like https://wa.me/947XXXXXXXX: your mobile number in international format, without the + and without the first 0
Your location on Google MapsHelping customers and delivery riders find you
Your Google review pageCollecting reviews, which help you appear in Google Maps searches
Your Wi-Fi networkCafés, guest houses and waiting rooms: guests join without asking for the password
A menu or price list (for example a PDF shared from Google Drive)Restaurants and salons that change prices often

How to make the QR code

  1. Open the free QR Code Generator.
  2. Choose the QR code type: Website / URL for links, Plain text, or Wi-Fi network.
  3. Paste your link. For Wi-Fi, type the network name and password, and choose the security type (usually WPA/WPA2).
  4. Optionally pick a Colour and Background, and choose 1024 px as the size if you’ll print it.
  5. Scan the preview with your own phone to test it, then click Download PNG.

Printing tips so it always scans

  • Size: at least 2–3 cm wide for a card or flyer that people hold. For a poster on a wall, go bigger: roughly 1 cm of QR code for every 10 cm of distance people will scan from.
  • Contrast: a dark code on a light background. Black on white is safest. Light codes on dark backgrounds don’t scan on many phones.
  • Leave a border: keep a clear margin around the code. Don’t put text or pictures right up against its edges.
  • Avoid shiny or curved surfaces like glossy lamination under bright lights, or round bottles, which can stop it scanning.
  • Test before printing many copies. Try it with two or three different phones, from the distance customers will use.
Add a call to action
A QR code alone doesn’t say why anyone should scan it. Add a few words next to it: “Scan to order on WhatsApp”, “Scan for today’s menu” or “Free Wi-Fi: scan to connect”.

Will my QR code stop working?

Codes made with ToolNest are static: your link is stored inside the code itself, not on our servers. They never expire and keep working as long as the link they point to works. Some other “free” QR sites make codes that send customers through their own server first, and those can stop working or show ads if the service changes its plans.

Watch out
Because the link is inside the code, you can’t change it after printing. Link to something you control and that won’t move, like your Facebook page or a menu file you can update, rather than a one-off post.

Common questions

Is it free to use these QR codes for my business?

Yes. There is no charge, no sign-up and no watermark, and you can use the codes on anything you print or sell.

Can I change the link after printing?

No. The link is stored in the code. If you need to change it, make a new QR code. Linking to a page you control avoids this.

Why won't my QR code scan?

It's usually too small, too low in contrast (for example light grey on white), printed on a shiny surface, or the link inside it is wrong. Test it again after fixing each one.

What size should I download?

256 px is fine for screens and WhatsApp. Choose 1024 px for anything you print, so it stays sharp at any size.