Restaurants rarely keep the same ordering setup for long. You might start with a third-party delivery app, move to your own commission-free ordering page, then add a pickup-only link for a second location. Every move would normally strand the QR codes printed on flyers, magnets, and bags already sitting in customers' kitchens.
A dynamic QR code keeps those printed pieces alive. The code points to a short redirect, and you decide where that redirect goes. Change platforms, run a pickup-only weekend while the delivery driver is out, or send late-night scans to a "we're closed, order tomorrow" page. The fridge magnet from last year still does its job.
Where to place it
- Stickers on takeout containers and delivery bags, so the next order starts from the last one.
- Fridge magnets handed out with orders, the classic spot people look when they are hungry.
- Door hangers and neighborhood flyers handed out within your delivery radius.
- The front window, readable from the sidewalk for people passing after closing time.
- Table cards in the dining room, inviting guests to order for pickup next time.
Tips that improve scans
Lead with the benefit
"Scan to order for pickup - skip the line" or "Order direct and save" gives a reason to scan. A code labeled only "Order online" competes poorly with apps already on the customer's phone.
Make magnets readable
Fridge magnets are seen from across a kitchen but scanned up close. A 3 cm (1.2 inch) code with your name and phone number printed beside it covers both moments.
Land on the menu, not the homepage
The landing page should show items and prices immediately, with clear pickup or delivery choice and hours. A homepage with a slideshow adds friction right when someone is ready to buy.
Plan for after hours
If your ordering system does not handle closed hours clearly, keep a simple "we open at 11" page ready and switch to it during long closures.
A pizzeria drops its delivery app
A family pizzeria had handed out hundreds of fridge magnets with a QR code linking to its listing on a delivery app. When the owners launched their own ordering page to avoid commission fees, they did not want those magnets to keep feeding the old app. They opened the manage link, pasted the new ordering page address, and saved. Customers scanning old magnets landed on the new page from that day on.