If you run a shop in Nepal, you have probably noticed customers reaching for their phones instead of their wallets. "QR cha?" (Is there a QR?) has become one of the most common questions at the counter. FonePay QR is the reason why. It is the shared QR network that connects almost every bank and major wallet in Nepal, so one sticker on your counter can accept payments from eSewa, Khalti, IME Pay, and the mobile banking apps of more than 50 banks.
This guide walks you through setting up FonePay QR for both your physical counter and your online checkout, written for real Nepali shopkeepers, not technical experts.
What FonePay QR Actually Is
FonePay is an interoperable payment network operated by F1Soft. "Interoperable" simply means a customer using Nabil mobile banking can scan the same QR as a customer using eSewa, and the money lands in your account either way. You do not need a separate QR for each wallet.
There are two types of QR you should know about:
- Static QR — one printed sticker or standee with a fixed code. The customer scans it, types the amount themselves, and pays. Best for small shops, tea stalls, and salons.
- Dynamic QR — generated fresh for each sale with the exact amount already filled in. The customer just scans and confirms. Best for retail counters with a POS, restaurants, and anywhere you want to avoid amount-entry mistakes.
What You Need Before You Start
Getting a merchant QR is not the same as receiving money on your personal eSewa. A merchant account keeps your business income separate, gives you a settlement report, and is the version your bank and the tax office will expect. Keep these ready:
- A bank account in your business or personal name with a bank that issues FonePay merchant QR (most commercial banks do).
- Your PAN or VAT certificate. A PAN is enough for most small businesses; if your turnover crosses the VAT threshold you will register for VAT.
- Your citizenship or business registration document.
- A registered mobile number for transaction alerts.
Step 1: Apply Through Your Bank or Wallet
You have two common routes to a merchant QR:
- Through your bank. Visit your branch or use its merchant onboarding form and ask for a "FonePay merchant QR." Settlement goes straight to that bank account, usually next business day.
- Through a wallet like eSewa or Khalti. Both offer merchant accounts with a FonePay-accepted QR. This is often the fastest option and you can apply largely from the app, then withdraw to your bank.
Submit your PAN, citizenship, and bank details. Approval typically takes a few days depending on document verification.
Step 2: Receive and Display Your Static QR
Once approved, you will get a QR — either a printed standee delivered to your shop or a digital image you can print yourself. Place it where customers stand to pay: beside the till, on the counter glass, or on a small acrylic stand. Make sure your shop name shows on screen when a customer scans, so they know the money is going to the right place. Test it yourself first by scanning with your own eSewa or banking app and sending NPR 5.
Step 3: Confirm Every Payment the Right Way
The most important habit at the counter: do not release goods on the customer's screenshot alone. Screenshots can be faked or show a pending transfer. Instead, rely on:
- The SMS or app notification on your registered number confirming "payment received."
- The merchant app alert (eSewa, Khalti, or your bank's merchant tool) that beeps when money actually arrives.
During a busy Dashain or Tihar rush this discipline matters most, because that is exactly when mistakes and fraud attempts spike.
Setting Up QR for Online Checkout
QR at the counter is only half the story. More Nepali shoppers now expect to pay online too — especially for delivery orders placed over Instagram, TikTok, or your website. For online sales you want a payment gateway, not just a printed sticker, so the right amount is charged and the order is automatically marked paid.
This is where keeping your storefront and payments in one system saves real headaches. Saauzi, for example, lets you build a Nepali online store and connect eSewa, Khalti, and FonePay-backed bank payments at checkout, so a customer who orders online pays with the same wallet they use at your counter — and the order, payment, and delivery all sit in one dashboard instead of scattered across screenshots and chat messages.
If you sell both in-store and online, aim for this setup:
- In-store: static or dynamic FonePay QR at the counter for walk-in customers.
- Online: eSewa/Khalti/FonePay checkout on your store, with Cash on Delivery as a backup since many Nepali customers still prefer COD with couriers like Pathao, NepXpress, or Aramex.
Don't Forget Tax and Bookkeeping
Digital payments leave a clean trail, which is good news at tax time but only if you use it. A few practical points:
- Money received on a personal wallet mixed with personal expenses is a nightmare to reconcile. Use a merchant account so business income is separate.
- If you are VAT-registered, your QR sales still need a VAT bill. The QR collects payment; it does not issue the invoice for you.
- Download your FonePay or wallet settlement report monthly and match it against your sales register. This is your proof of income and makes filing far simpler.
Common Problems and Quick Fixes
"Payment failed" but money left the customer's account
This is usually a delayed settlement, not a lost payment. The amount typically reverses within a few hours to a couple of days. Ask the customer to wait and check again before refunding, so you do not accidentally pay twice.
QR scans but shows the wrong name
Stop and verify. If the merchant name is not yours, the QR may have been tampered with or replaced. Re-print from your official source and keep static QR standees somewhere customers cannot swap them.
Customer says they paid but you got no alert
Check your registered number and merchant app are logged in and have signal. If your phone was offline, the payment may still have gone through — confirm in your merchant app's transaction history before handing over goods.
Your Takeaway
Start small and get it working this week: apply for a FonePay merchant QR through your bank or eSewa/Khalti using your PAN and citizenship, print and place the static QR at your counter, and test it with a NPR 5 payment to yourself. Make "confirm the alert, not the screenshot" a rule for everyone at the till. Then, if you sell online too, connect the same wallets to your store checkout so in-store and online payments flow into one place. Get the counter QR live first — it is the fastest way to stop losing the customer who only carries a phone.
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