QR codes for trades: choose the right next step for local customers

Choose one destination before designing the code. Someone who has just seen a parked vehicle usually needs a low-effort way to make contact; someone reading a leaflet may be ready to view work examples or make a booking.

State that action beside the code in plain language, such as “Scan to start a WhatsApp quote enquiry”. A code without an explanation asks people to guess what will happen.

A WhatsApp journey suits an initial conversation or quote request. A quote form can collect structured job details. An existing booking provider can suit appointments, while a portfolio page is useful when a customer needs to see relevant work before contacting you.

Review, payment and call links have different jobs: a review link is for feedback after work, a payment link should point to your established secure provider, and a call link is best where a phone conversation is genuinely the preferred route. Do not combine several unrelated actions behind one vehicle code.

QR Trade is designed for a work-van scan that opens WhatsApp with a pre-filled quote-enquiry message. It gives a passer-by a direct route to start a conversation without copying a number from the vehicle.

This is particularly useful where the scope of work needs discussion. The customer can add their own description before choosing whether to send the message; the scan starts the conversation, rather than replacing the details needed for a quote.

Imagine a decorator whose van is parked outside a completed job. Their chosen action is a WhatsApp quote enquiry. They set up the QR Trade journey in the builder, check that the business contact details and pre-filled wording are appropriate, then use a short prompt: “Thinking about decorating? Scan for a WhatsApp quote enquiry”.

Before relying on it, they scan it with another phone, check that WhatsApp opens to the intended business and read the prompt from normal viewing distance. The same process applies to a plumber, electrician, builder, roofer, cleaner or mobile mechanic, although the customer’s job description will differ.

For planned work, a quote enquiry or portfolio can be a sensible first step. For appointment-led services, link to the business’s existing booking page and label it accurately. For completed work, an unobtrusive review request can point to the business’s existing review destination without offering incentives or screening feedback.

Use one clear route per code. If you need separate actions, make separate codes with distinct labels—for example, one on a van for enquiries and one on an invoice for payment through an existing provider.

Keep the code on a flat, clean area where it is not interrupted by a door seam, handle, fuel flap, window edge or vehicle contour. Leave clear space around it and pair it with high-contrast explanatory text. Avoid putting essential scan instructions in tiny type.

A vehicle code should be scanned only when the vehicle is safely parked. Do not encourage people to scan while driving or crossing traffic. For more placement detail, see the vehicle signage guide; for printed applications, see the stickers guide.

Use the tradespeople page if you want the product-led QR Trade WhatsApp journey. Visit a trade-specific page when you want examples tailored to that service. Use the lead-generation hub to compare contact, quote, booking, review, payment and portfolio destinations before committing to one.