WhatsApp QR Codes for Business: A Click-to-Chat Setup Guide

Every WhatsApp QR code is really just a special kind of link — wa.me/<number> — wrapped up as a scannable image. When someone scans it, WhatsApp opens directly to a chat with your business number, sometimes with a message already typed in and ready to send. No contact-saving, no typing a number, no "what was that WhatsApp number again?"

Getting the number format right

This is the part people get wrong most often. WhatsApp links need the full international number, with the country code, and no leading zeros, spaces, dashes, or plus sign.

The pattern: drop the leading 0 from the local number, and put the country code in front instead. If the QR code is wrong by even one digit, it'll open a chat with a stranger — or with nobody at all — so it's worth double-checking against a real phone before printing.

Step-by-step: create a WhatsApp QR code with Everly QR

1. Go to everlyqr.com/whatsapp.
2. Enter your number in international format (see the table above).
3. Optionally, add a pre-filled message.
4. Style the code to match your branding and download as PNG or SVG.

Pre-filled messages that save time on both ends

A pre-filled message means the customer doesn't have to think about what to write — and it gives you instant context on why they're messaging. A few starting points by industry:

• Restaurants: "Hi, I'd like to make a booking for ___ people."
• Real estate: "Hi, I'm interested in the property at [address] — is it still available?"
• Retail: "Hi, I have a question about an order."
• Services (salons, repairs, etc.): "Hi, I'd like to book an appointment."

Customers can still edit the message before sending, so think of it as a helpful starting point rather than a fixed script.

Where to put it

• Menus and table tents: "Scan to order" or "Scan for delivery" — especially useful for takeaway and delivery orders.
• Packaging and invoices: a quick way for customers to ask about an order or request support.
• Storefront windows: for businesses that take appointments or custom orders via chat.
• Vehicles and signage: delivery vans, real estate boards, and pop-up stalls all benefit from a contact method that doesn't require a phone call.
• Email signatures and digital invoices: the QR code works just as well displayed on screen as it does printed.

WhatsApp Business: worth switching to?

The QR code works the same whether the number is on regular WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business — but Business accounts add features that make handling customer chats easier at scale:

• A business profile with hours, address, and website
• Automated greeting and away messages
• A product catalogue customers can browse inside the chat
• Quick replies for common questions

If you're getting more than the occasional WhatsApp enquiry, switching the number to WhatsApp Business (it's free) is worth doing before the QR code goes out — the code itself doesn't need to change.

One scan, straight to a conversation

The whole point of a WhatsApp QR code is removing friction between "I have a question" and "I asked it." For businesses that already handle enquiries over chat, putting the code somewhere customers naturally are — on the table, in the box, on the door — turns a potential phone call or abandoned enquiry into a quick message.