A customer is standing at your counter, visiting your stall at a market or wants to pay during an event. You do not always need to give them bank details, send a link manually or ask them to type a web address. Instead, you can show them a QR code that opens a prepared payment or sales page.
With JustPayFor, a QR code is a simple way for a customer to open the correct page on their phone. Once scanned, they can review the prepared payment and continue to the payment provider handling the actual transaction.
This can be useful in shops, service businesses, market stalls, exhibitions, events, face-to-face appointments and anywhere else where it is easier to scan than type or search.
How does a QR code payment work?
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Show the QR code
The code can be displayed on a screen or presented in another format that is easy for the customer to scan.
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The customer scans it
Their phone opens the prepared JustPayFor page without the customer having to type the web address manually.
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They continue to payment
The actual transaction is then handled by the payment provider connected to the seller's account.
A QR code is not a payment method
This is an important distinction. A QR code is not itself a payment method like a card or digital wallet.
The QR code is simply a convenient way to open the correct page on the customer's phone.
The customer can then continue to the connected payment provider and choose from the payment methods available for that seller account.
Depending on the provider, market and configuration, these may include cards, digital wallets, bank-based payments or other local and alternative payment methods.
You can learn more about the feature on our Scan to Pay page.
Where can QR payments be particularly useful?
Shops and service businesses
A customer can scan a QR code at reception, at the counter or after a service and continue to payment on their own phone.
Market stalls and exhibitions
A QR code gives customers a quick route to payment without you having to send them a web address manually.
Fairs and seasonal selling
At temporary sales locations, QR can provide an additional way for customers to reach an online payment.
Events
Organisers can use QR codes at sales points, reception desks or other places where attendees need to make a payment.
Face-to-face appointments
Instead of reading out bank details or sending a message, you can show the customer a prepared QR code on your screen.
Mobile businesses
QR can be useful when you sell away from fixed premises and want to give customers a simple route to online payment.
Example: QR payment in a service business
Imagine you run a salon, workshop, studio or another service-based business.
The customer has finished their appointment and needs to pay £45. Instead of giving them bank details or asking them to open a particular web address, you can show them a QR code.
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Prepare the payment
Create the appropriate payment in JustPayFor or use the sales flow that best fits the transaction.
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The customer scans the QR code
You can show the code on a phone, tablet or another suitable display.
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They complete the payment
On their own phone, the customer continues to the payment process handled by the connected provider.
QR payments at a market stall or exhibition
Markets, fairs, exhibitions and temporary stalls have different requirements from permanent premises.
You may be selling in a location for only a few hours or days and do not necessarily want to build additional infrastructure just for that event.
A QR code can provide an additional route to payment.
The customer takes out their phone, scans the code and opens the prepared page. There is no need to give them a long web address or ask them to search for your business online.
Using QR codes during an event
QR codes can also be useful at attendee service points during an event.
For example, you could use them when selling additional services, products or other paid options available during the event.
If you are selling admission tickets themselves, however, it is usually better to use the dedicated Online Ticket Sales feature, which also supports ticket creation and later entry checking.
Can a payment QR code be printed?
A QR code does not have to be displayed only on a phone.
Where the payment setup is suitable for it, the code can also be placed on material available to customers, for example at a sales counter or stall.
The important thing is to make the QR code large enough, easy to see, high contrast and practical to scan from a normal distance.
Before using a printed QR code with customers, test it on several different phones.
Showing the QR code on a phone or tablet
You do not always need to print anything.
When dealing directly with a customer, you can show the QR code on your device. This can work particularly well for mobile businesses, customer appointments and situations where the payment is prepared individually.
The customer scans your screen with their phone and opens the relevant page.
QR code or payment link?
In many situations both options ultimately lead to a similar destination. The main difference is how the customer opens the payment.
| Situation | QR code | Payment link |
|---|---|---|
| The customer is standing next to you | Very convenient | Possible, but you need to send the link |
| The customer is somewhere else | You can send an image, but it is usually less convenient | Better choice |
| WhatsApp or text message | Possible | More natural |
| Counter or market stall | Very convenient | Possible |
| Poster or printed material | Natural use case | Less convenient to type manually |
If the customer is remote, it is usually easier to send a Payment Link. If they are standing in front of you, a QR code may be simpler.
What if the customer is buying several products?
The way a customer opens the page should not determine how you structure the order itself.
If the customer simply needs to pay one agreed amount, a straightforward payment may be enough.
If the order includes several products or services and the customer should see each item before paying, a Virtual Basket may be a better fit.
A QR code can still be used as a convenient way to open that basket.
Can QR payments replace a card terminal?
In some situations, opening an online payment through a QR code can allow a customer to pay without using a card terminal for that particular transaction. However, QR is not a direct replacement for every function of a payment terminal.
A terminal allows a customer to tap or insert a card or compatible device directly at the point of sale. With QR, the customer uses their own phone, opens an online page and continues through the payment process offered by the connected provider.
The right option therefore depends on the type of business and how your customers prefer to pay.
Does the customer need to install an app?
No. A standard QR code can normally be scanned using the camera or QR functionality already available on the customer's phone.
After scanning, the customer opens the prepared web page and can continue from there.
They do not need to create a JustPayFor account simply to continue to payment.
What does the customer see after scanning?
That depends on the type of payment or sale you have prepared.
The QR code can open a JustPayFor page containing the information the customer needs before continuing to payment.
The QR code is therefore only the beginning of the journey. It does not replace clear information about what the customer is paying for.
Which payment methods are available after scanning?
JustPayFor does not process the actual payment transaction itself.
Once the customer continues to payment, the available methods depend on the payment provider connected to the seller's account, the market and the account configuration.
Depending on the provider, these may include cards, digital wallets, bank-based payments or other local and alternative payment methods.
The important distinction is that the QR code is the access channel, not the payment method itself.
Where does the money go?
Customer funds do not first go to JustPayFor.
The transaction is handled by the payment provider connected to the seller's account, and the funds are settled according to the terms of the merchant's agreement with that provider.
JustPayFor can receive information about the transaction result so that the appropriate payment status can be updated, but it does not hold the seller's sales revenue.
How much do QR payments cost with JustPayFor?
monthly JustPayFor fee
JustPayFor does not charge a monthly subscription or its own percentage fee on the value of each sale.
Transaction processing
The cost of processing the actual payment depends on the pricing and terms of the provider connected to the seller's account.
5 practical tips for using QR codes for payments
1. Make the QR code easy to find
Customers should immediately understand which code to scan and what it is for.
2. Do not make it too small
A very small QR code can be difficult to scan, particularly in poor lighting or with some phone cameras.
3. Use good contrast
A clear QR code on a simple background is easier to scan than one placed over a busy design.
4. Test before customers use it
Try the code on several devices before printing a large quantity of materials or opening your event.
5. Explain what happens next
A simple instruction such as “Scan to continue to payment” makes the purpose of the QR code clear.
Frequently asked questions
The customer scans the QR code with their phone and opens the prepared page. They can then continue to the payment handled by the provider connected to the seller's account.
No. The QR code is a quick way to open the relevant page. The customer chooses the actual payment method later from the options available through the connected payment provider.
No. The customer can scan the QR code with their phone and open the prepared page without installing a JustPayFor app.
In some situations, QR can allow a customer to pay without using a card terminal for that transaction, but it does not replace every terminal function. The customer uses their own phone and completes an online payment.
Where the sales setup is suitable for it, the QR code can be displayed on material available to customers. Always check that it is easy to scan and test it on several devices before use.
JustPayFor does not charge a monthly subscription or its own percentage fee on the value of each sale. Payment-processing charges depend on the provider connected to the seller's account.
Let customers scan and continue to payment
Use QR codes in your shop, at a stall, during an event or when meeting customers face to face.
