How to Get Your Google Review Link and QR Code (2026)
Happy customers mean to leave reviews. Then they hit the steps. "Search for us on Google, find the listing, scroll to reviews, tap 'Write a review'" loses most people by step two. A direct review link, or a QR code that opens the review form, cuts all of that to one tap.
This guide shows how to get both from Google for free, where to put them and the rules you have to follow when you ask.
Get your review link and QR code from Google
Google provides both from your Business Profile. As of October 2026, its help page gives these steps (Google Business Profile Help):
- Go to your Business Profile at business.google.com and sign in with the account that manages it.
- Select Read reviews, then Get more reviews (the share icon).
- To copy the link, select the copy icon.
- To save the QR code, right-click it and choose "Save image as…".
Two things can get in the way:
- QR codes can only be generated in a computer browser, not on a phone, according to the same help page. If you only see a link on mobile, switch to a laptop.
- Customers must be signed in to a Google account to leave a review (Google Business Profile Help). Most Android users and many iPhone users already are. Everyone else gets asked to sign in, which is one more step, and one more reason to ask when people have a minute to spare.
Test the link before you share it. Open it in a private browser window and on your phone. It should go straight to your business and the review form. Several locations? Each has its own link, so check that every one lands in the right place.
Where to use your review link
Ask where the customer already is, right after things went well. The plumber who texts the link from the driveway gets more reviews than the one who emails it a week later.
| Where | How | Works best for |
|---|---|---|
| Text after the job or visit | Short thank-you message with the link | Home services, clinics, auto repair, salons |
| Email receipt or invoice | One line and a button near the top | Any business that emails receipts |
| Follow-up email (once) | Sent 2-3 days later if no review yet | Larger jobs, professional services |
| Your website | "Review us on Google" link in the footer or thank-you page | Everyone |
| Email signature | One line under your name | Office-based businesses |
| WhatsApp or Messenger | After a chat that solved a problem | Businesses that chat with customers |
Example text
Thanks for choosing Riverside Auto today, Sam. If you have a minute, a Google review helps other drivers find an honest shop: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.
In the US, texting customers from a business number requires A2P 10DLC registration and consent. See A2P 10DLC explained.
Where to use your QR code
QR codes earn their keep wherever the customer is standing in front of you:
- A counter or checkout card at a restaurant, salon, shop or front desk: "Enjoyed your visit? Scan to review us on Google."
- A leave-behind card or fridge magnet after a home service visit.
- Printed receipts and invoices.
- Table tents in restaurants and waiting rooms.
- The truck or van door, for trades that park in the customer's driveway.
Print tips:
- Make the code at least 2 cm (about 0.8 inches) square for cards and much bigger for anything read from a distance.
- Put a plain-English line next to it. People ignore a bare QR code.
- Test the printed code with two different phones before you order 500 of them.
The rules on asking for reviews
Google and the FTC both have rules here. Google's are stricter.
Google's policy prohibits:
- Incentives: Google says offering "free or discounted goods or services" in exchange for reviews is fake engagement and "strictly prohibited" (Google Business Profile Help).
- Selective asking: merchants may not "discourage or prohibit negative reviews, or selectively solicit positive reviews from customers" (Google Maps content policy).
- Staff quotas on the number of review requests, and reviews from people with a conflict of interest such as current or former employees (same policy).
The FTC's rule on consumer reviews, in force since October 21, 2024, bans fake reviews and incentives conditioned on a positive or negative review (FTC Q&A, as of Oct 2026).
The safe approach is to put the link and QR code in front of every customer, the same way, with nothing attached. A sign that says "Leave us a review" is fine. A sign that says "Leave us a 5-star review and get a free dessert" breaks Google's policy twice.
Common mistakes
- "Happy? Click here for Google. Unhappy? Click here to tell us privately." That's review gating, which Google prohibits. You can offer a private feedback channel, but the Google link must be available to everyone in the same way.
- Kiosks or tablets in the store where customers leave reviews on your device while staff watch. It puts people on the spot, and plenty of customers won't sign in to Google on a shared device. Let them use their own phone.
- Third-party QR generators with redirects you don't control. If the service shuts down or starts charging, every printed code breaks. Use Google's own link, or a short link on your own domain.
- Asking too often. One request and at most one reminder per customer.
Track whether it's working
Each month, compare new reviews with the number of customers you served. If reviews per 100 customers drop, check that requests are still going out and the link still works. And reply to every review. See our review reply templates or use the free review reply generator.
How BeeCMO helps
Every BeeCMO plan, including the Free plan, includes your review link, a printable QR code and a website review widget. On paid plans, Guard Bee prepares review requests for every customer, which you send with one tap, by text (US, Canadian and Australian numbers), WhatsApp or email, tracks clicks, and drafts a reply to every new review for your approval. See BeeCMO for restaurants, for electricians, or compare plans.
More on Guard Bee, how it compares with Podium, Birdeye and GoHighLevel, or start with the free website scan.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my Google review link?
In your Business Profile at business.google.com, select Read reviews, then Get more reviews (the share icon), and copy the link.
How do I create a Google review QR code?
Use the same Get more reviews option in a computer browser and save the QR code image. Google says review QR codes can't currently be generated on mobile devices.
Do customers need a Google account to leave a review?
Yes. Google says customers must be signed in to a Google account to leave a review.
Can I offer a discount for scanning the QR code and leaving a review?
No. Google prohibits offering free or discounted goods or services in exchange for reviews.
Can I put the review QR code on receipts?
Yes. Receipts, counter cards, leave-behind cards and invoices are all good places, as long as every customer gets the same request with no incentive attached.
Sources
All checked 21 October 2026.
- Google Business Profile Help, create a Google link or QR code to request reviews: https://support.google.com/business/answer/16816815
- Google Business Profile Help, tips to get more reviews (customers must be signed in; incentives prohibited): https://support.google.com/business/answer/3474122
- Google Maps user contributed content policy: https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7400114
- FTC, Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule: Questions and Answers: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/consumer-reviews-testimonials-rule-questions-answers