You've probably seen QR codes on restaurant tables and never scanned one. Most people haven't. But here's the thing – the ones that work aren't trying to get you to download an app or join a loyalty programme. They do one thing: open a review form. Point, tap, type. The customer never has to search for your business on Google Maps, find the reviews tab, or remember your name correctly.
Here's how to set one up, where to actually put it, and the mistakes that make most review QR codes useless.
What the QR code actually does
It encodes a URL – specifically, the direct link to your Google review form. When someone scans it, their phone opens that URL in a browser. If they're signed into Google (and on a phone, almost everyone is), they see five stars and a text box. That's it. No app, no signup, no friction.
The URL looks like this:
https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=YOUR_PLACE_ID
Every business on Google Maps has a unique Place ID. The QR code is just a visual wrapper around this link – nothing more.
Step 1: Get your Google review link
You need the direct link before you can generate a QR code.
The fastest way: go to our Google Review Link Generator, search for your business, and copy the link. It also generates the QR code for you, so you can skip ahead to placement tips if you want.
If you'd rather do it manually: search for your business on Google while logged into the account that manages the listing, click "Ask for reviews" in the Business Profile panel, and copy the link from the popup. It'll start with g.page/.... Our full guide on review links covers this in more detail, including the Place ID method for businesses you don't manage.
Step 2: Generate the QR code
Paste your review link into a QR code generator. Our Review Link Generator does this automatically. If you'd rather use a third-party tool, QR Code Monkey works well and it's free.
Download the image as a PNG at high resolution (300 DPI minimum if you're printing). Then – and this is the step people skip – test it on two different phones before you print anything. A QR code that doesn't scan is worse than no QR code at all, and you don't want to find out after printing 500 table cards.
One useful trick: use the shortened version of your review link (the g.page/... one) as the source URL. Shorter URLs produce simpler QR patterns, which scan faster at small sizes.
Where to put it (and where not to bother)
The principle is simple: put it where customers see it right after a good experience. Not before, not during – after. Timing matters more than placement.
Restaurants and cafes
Table cards are the best spot, full stop. The customer just finished a meal they enjoyed, they're waiting for the bill, and they're looking at the table. A small card with "Enjoyed your meal? Scan to tell Google" and a QR code is all you need. We've seen restaurant owners try putting them on menus, at the entrance, on the back of the drinks list – the table card beats all of them because the timing is right.
Second best: the receipt footer. If your POS lets you add an image (most do), stick the QR code at the bottom. It's passive, costs nothing, and some percentage of people will scan it.
Salons and barbershops
The mirror station is your prime real estate. The customer is literally looking at the result of your work and (hopefully) feeling great about it. A small sticker or card at each station catches them at peak satisfaction. The appointment card is another good spot – print the QR code on the back of the card you hand out with their next booking.
Dental clinics and medical practices
The checkout desk, right where patients pay or book their next appointment. A small acrylic stand works. Some practices put them in the waiting room, but that's less effective – patients are about to be treated, not reflecting on a great experience. The exception is recall appointments, where the patient already knows and trusts you.
Tradespeople
Your invoice. That's the answer. Whether you email it as a PDF or hand over a paper copy, put the QR code in the footer. The customer has just had their problem fixed, they're relieved, and they're looking at the document. Business cards work too – print the code on the back.
Some electricians and plumbers put QR stickers on their vans, which is clever. Neighbours see you working on a house and might scan it out of curiosity. It's not going to drive a flood of reviews, but it costs a few pounds and sits there forever.
Design: what actually matters vs. what doesn't
Skip the advice about making your QR code "on brand" with custom colours and embedded logos. For a review QR code, function beats aesthetics every time. Here's what actually affects whether people scan it:
- Write something above it. "Scan to leave a review" or "Tell us how we did" – five words is enough. Without a prompt, a surprising number of people will look at a QR code and not know what it's for or why they should bother.
- Size matters. At least 2 cm × 2 cm for something someone holds in their hand (business card, table card). 4 cm+ for anything at arm's length or further. Too small and it won't scan, especially in dim lighting.
- Black on white. Always. Coloured QR codes and light-on-dark patterns look nice in mockups and scan terribly in real life, especially on older phones.
- Don't put a logo in the middle. It covers data modules, which makes the code fragile. Error correction can compensate up to a point, but why risk it? You're not building brand awareness with a QR code – you're getting a review.
Pairing QR codes with other channels
A QR code catches the in-person moment. But not everyone scans, and not every customer visits your physical location (think delivery, online bookings, or home services). That's where other channels fill the gap:
- Follow-up email the next day catches people who didn't scan. The QR code and the email together cover both "I'll do it now" and "I'll do it later" types.
- WhatsApp or SMS after a job is especially effective for tradespeople. We wrote a whole piece on WhatsApp review requests if you want the templates.
- Asking in person is still the strongest nudge. "If you were happy, it'd really help us if you left a quick Google review – there's a QR code on the card." Most people say yes when asked face to face.
The catch: you can't filter who reviews you
A QR code sends everyone to Google. Your happiest customer and your most frustrated one get the same form. Usually that's fine – most people coming in are happy. But it only takes one bad review to sit at the top of your profile for weeks and pull your average down.
The way around this is a review funnel. Instead of the QR code pointing straight to Google, it points to a short landing page that asks "How was your experience?" first. Four or five stars? They get sent to Google. One to three stars? They get a private feedback form so you hear about the problem before it becomes a public review.
That's what TrustMint does. You get a branded review page with a star-gate, automated email follow-ups, and QR codes that include the filter – so you're not sending every customer to Google blind.
The short version
- Get your Google review link (free generator here).
- Turn it into a QR code.
- Test it on two phones.
- Print it on one thing this week – a table card, receipt, business card, or invoice.
- Write "Scan to leave a review" above it.
That's it. Two minutes of setup for something that collects reviews on autopilot. The businesses that get the most reviews aren't doing anything fancy – they've just made the ask unavoidable.
Want the full picture on review links beyond QR codes? Read how to create and share your Google review link. And for the art of asking face to face, there's how to ask customers for reviews.