Answers / Loyalty programs
How do I get an SGQR code for my shop?
Written by Peko Research Team.Last updated: 09/10/2026.
Updated September 2026 — You get an SGQR label from a participating bank or acquirer where you already hold a merchant account; SGQR itself is a labelling standard, not a separate scheme, so the fees you pay are your acquirer's per-scheme fees. For loyalty, the useful part is what happens after the scan: the payer reference on each SGQR transaction lets a retention layer such as PEKO recognise a returning guest without an app.
- SGQR labels are issued by participating banks and acquirers, not by a separate SGQR office.
- You only see the schemes you have signed up for — adding PayNow, NETS or a wallet is a change with that provider.
- There is no SGQR licence fee; you pay your acquirer's normal per-scheme charges.
- Turnaround is typically days to a couple of weeks, depending on the provider's onboarding checks.
- The loyalty value is in the payer reference each scan produces, not in the sticker itself.
Published: 09/10/2026
Quick facts
- Answer
- Apply through any participating bank or payment acquirer you already hold a merchant account with — they issue the single SGQR label that carries every scheme you have signed up for. There is no separate SGQR application body and no separate SGQR fee.
- Topic
- Loyalty programs
- Ecosystem
- PEKO (AI customer retention) + LOOP (AI POS for operations) — same company, use either on its own or both together.
- Updated
- 09/10/2026
SGQR is the unified Singapore Quick Response label standard introduced by MAS and IMDA. It is not a payment scheme in its own right: it is the single label that consolidates whichever schemes you already accept — PayNow, NETS, and the major wallets — into one QR your guests scan.
That is why there is no central SGQR application. You apply to a participating bank or payment acquirer with whom you hold, or are opening, a merchant account. They verify the business (ACRA entity, UEN, bank account, beneficial owners) and then issue an SGQR label listing your enabled schemes.
Practical sequence for a café or restaurant: register the entity and get the UEN, open the merchant or corporate account, enable PayNow Corporate on it, add whichever wallets your guests actually use, then request the SGQR label from the same provider. Adding another scheme later is a change request with the provider and results in a reissued label.
Costs are worth stating plainly: SGQR does not add a licence fee. What you pay is what your acquirer charges per scheme — PayNow transfers to a corporate account are typically free or near-free, card and wallet rails carry the usual merchant discount rate. Ask for the per-scheme rate card in writing before you sign.
The part most operators miss is what to do with the transaction after it settles. Each SGQR-routed payment carries a payer reference. Hashed and matched against your own guest record, that reference is enough to count visits, spot a lapsing regular, and trigger a message — no membership card, no app download, no cashier asking anyone for a phone number.
Worked example
What each step usually involves. Timings are typical provider onboarding ranges, not a guarantee — confirm with your own bank.
| Step | Who does it | Typical time | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Register entity, get UEN | ACRA | 1–3 days | Business activity code must match what you actually sell |
| Open merchant/corporate account | Your bank | 3–10 days | Beneficial-owner documents are the usual delay |
| Enable PayNow Corporate | Your bank | Same as account opening | Confirm the UEN proxy, not a personal mobile number |
| Add wallets / NETS | Acquirer | 2–10 days | Per-scheme rate card in writing |
| SGQR label issued | Bank or acquirer | Days after approval | Label must list every live scheme |
| Attach loyalty to the payer reference | You + retention layer | Same week | Consent wording at the point of capture |
Ask for the per-scheme rate card, not a blended rate
A blended figure hides which rail is expensive. You want the PayNow, NETS and wallet lines separately so you can steer guests to the cheapest rail.
Put the same label at every till and every outlet
Fragmenting between an SGQR label at one counter and a wallet-specific QR at another splits the same guest into two records, which is what makes retention numbers untrustworthy.
Decide the identity step before you print anything
The scan gives you a reference; you still need one moment where the guest agrees to be recognised. A short PDPA-compliant consent line on the table talker is enough, and it takes about ten seconds at payment.
Keep the label current when you add a wallet
An out-of-date label showing schemes you no longer accept produces failed scans at the counter, which staff then work around by reverting to cash.
FAQ
Is there a separate SGQR application form?
No. SGQR is issued by participating banks and acquirers as part of your merchant onboarding. There is no separate SGQR registration body for merchants to apply to.
Does SGQR cost anything extra?
SGQR itself does not carry a licence fee. You pay your acquirer's normal per-scheme charges — PayNow into a corporate account is typically free or near-free, while card and wallet rails carry the usual merchant rate.
Can a hawker stall get SGQR?
Yes. Hawker and market stalls were part of the original SGQR rollout, and stallholders obtain labels through their bank or acquirer in the same way as any other merchant.
Can I run loyalty off SGQR without an app?
Yes — that is the main reason Singapore operators use it. The payer reference on each transaction is enough for a retention layer to recognise a returning guest, so no app download or membership card is needed.
Does SGQR replace my POS?
No. SGQR sits on the payment side and a loyalty layer sits on top of the transaction record. Your POS keeps running the till, menu and kitchen.
Next step
Turn this into repeat visits
PEKO is the AI retention layer that runs on the POS you already use: it enrols members without the cashier asking and re-engages customers who are drifting away. Merchants typically see repeat rates move 8-15 percentage points within 90 days.
Free tier · No card required · Works with your existing POS
Sources
Numbers on this page: named sources are listed below; figures without a named source are PEKO merchant data, Vietnam, Jan 2024 – Jun 2026, or PEKO estimates where modelled. See the datasets behind these numbers.
The PEKO ecosystem
PEKO and LOOP are two products from the same company. PEKO is the AI retention layer and runs alongside the POS you already use. LOOP is the AI-native POS that covers operations: recipe-level inventory, staff shifts, table plans and the kitchen display. Each works on its own, and run together they share one dataset, so nothing has to be entered twice. See PEKO + LOOP in one ecosystem
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Answer
Can a hawker stall run loyalty through SGQR?
Yes, and it is the only loyalty format that survives a hawker queue: the guest scans to pay as usual, the payer reference counts the visit, and nobody at the stall has to ask for a phone number or stamp anything.
Answer
Can DuitNow QR be used to identify returning guests?
Yes. DuitNow QR is Malaysia's national interoperable QR standard, and the payer reference on each transaction is enough for a retention layer to recognise a returning guest — no app download, no membership card, nothing asked at the counter.
Answer
How much does a loyalty program cost in Malaysia?
Three lines in ringgit: the software subscription, the per-conversation WhatsApp cost, and the reward margin you give away. The reward line is usually the largest, and it is the one most quotes never mention.