Receipt Marketing Ideas: What to Print on Your Receipts

Last updated: 12 October 2026

The best receipt marketing is one clear offer with a date, a condition and a way to redeem it. Put offers that change in your till's receipt footer, which costs nothing and can be changed any day. Save pre-printed rolls for things that don't change, like your logo, a review QR code or your loyalty sign-up.

Every customer leaves with a receipt in their hand. Here's how to make that bit of paper bring them back.

In this guide

• What should I print on a receipt?
• Till footer or pre-printed roll: which should I use?
• How do I word a receipt coupon so people use it?
• Which receipt promotions work best?
• How do I put a QR code on a receipt?
• Does coloured receipt paper help?
• How do I know if it's working?
• FAQ

What should I print on a receipt?

Pick one job for the receipt and stick to it. One message gets read. Three get ignored. The ones that earn their space:

• A next-visit offer with an end date, like 10% off your next visit within 14 days.
• A review request with a QR code to your Google Business page.
• A loyalty sign-up so the receipt does the recruiting for you.
• A bundle or add-on, like coffee and a pastry for a set price.
• Useful info such as your Wi-Fi code, opening hours or returns policy.

Till footer or pre-printed roll: which should I use?

There are two ways to get a message onto a receipt, and they suit different jobs.

The till footer is text your EPOS system prints at the bottom of every receipt. Most systems let you change it in the settings, so it costs nothing and you can swap it whenever you like.

A pre-printed roll has your design printed onto the paper before it reaches you, on the back of the roll or in a header band, repeated all the way down. It looks more professional and works even if your till can't do graphics, but every design is a separate print run.

Message	Best place for it	Why
Dated offers and discount codes	Till footer	They expire. Printed rolls would go out of date.
Testing two offers against each other	Till footer	Change it in seconds, no new stock.
Logo and branding	Pre-printed roll	Sharper than most till logos, in your brand colours.
Review or loyalty QR code	Either	The link doesn't change, so a printed roll works well.
Wi-Fi code, returns policy, opening hours	Either	Use the footer if they might change.

Want your logo printed by the till instead? See how to print your logo on thermal receipts. For print options on rolls, see how custom printed receipt rolls work.

How do I word a receipt coupon so people use it?

Use this order: what they get, the condition, the end date, how to redeem. Leave any of those out and people either forget or aren't sure it applies to them.

For example: "20% off your next visit when you spend €25 or more. Valid until 30 November. Show this receipt at the till."

Vague	Clear
Come back soon!	€3 off any sandwich on your next visit this week
Ask in store about special offers	Save €5 on your next order over €30
Limited time only	Valid until 30 November
Free coffee coupon	Your next coffee is on us. Show this receipt within 7 days.
Visit our website for offers	Enter code AUTUMN10 at checkout online

Always use a real date, not "this month". It saves arguments at the till.

Which receipt promotions work best?

• Next-visit discount with a short window. A week or two gives people a reason to come back sooner.
• A free add-on with a spend. A free coffee with lunch over €15 feels generous but keeps your cost under control.
• Bundles. "Coffee and a pastry for €5" lifts the spend per visit instead of just cutting the price.
• Loyalty sign-up. Print it on every receipt so every sale is a chance to sign someone up.
• Review requests. A QR code to your Google reviews, right when the customer is happy, is one of the easiest wins.
• Referrals. "Bring a friend and you both get €5 off" turns regulars into word of mouth.

How do I put a QR code on a receipt?

Build the page first, then make the code. A QR code is only as good as what it opens.

1. Pick one action: leave a review, join your loyalty scheme, or claim an offer.
2. Make a mobile-friendly page for that action, or use your Google review link.
3. Create the QR code. Many EPOS systems can print one in the footer. Otherwise it can go on a pre-printed roll.
4. Keep it at least 20mm x 20mm, dark on a light background, away from the tear edge.
5. Test it on a printed receipt with a couple of different phones before you rely on it.

Does coloured receipt paper help?

It can. A coloured receipt stands out in a wallet or bag, and it's handy for things like colour-coding kitchen dockets or marking a promotion week. It does cost more. Our 80mm coloured thermal rolls are €38.95 + VAT for a box of 20, against €19.99 + VAT for standard white 80x70mm rolls.

So use colour for a reason, not by default. There's more on when it pays off in when colour receipt paper actually helps.

How do I know if it's working?

Give every offer its own code and count how many come back. That's all most businesses need. If your till can log the code as a discount, you'll have the numbers without any extra work.

• Offers: count redemptions per code, and compare one offer against another over the same number of weeks.
• Reviews: note your Google review count before you start and check it a month later.
• Loyalty: count new sign-ups while the message is running.
• QR codes: use a link you can track, so you can see how many people scanned.

Keep what works, drop what doesn't, and change the footer offer every few weeks so regulars don't stop reading it.

Frequently asked questions

What should I put on the bottom of a receipt?

One clear message. A next-visit offer with an end date, a review request with a QR code, or a loyalty sign-up all work well. Most EPOS systems let you change the footer text in settings, so you can swap the message whenever you like at no cost.

Can I print a discount code on my till rolls?

You can, but codes and offers with an end date are better in your till's receipt footer. A pre-printed roll repeats the same design all the way down, so a dated offer would go out of date while you still have stock. Use printed rolls for your logo, a review QR code or a loyalty sign-up.

How big should a QR code be on a receipt?

At least 20mm x 20mm, printed dark on a light background and kept away from the tear edge. Test it on a printed receipt with a couple of phones before you rely on it.

Are custom printed till rolls more expensive than plain rolls?

Yes, there's a premium over plain rolls, and it depends on the number of colours and your order volume. Ring DiscountTillRolls.ie on 01 443 3964 for a price based on your usage.