From a PDF menu to a digital QR menu: 4 steps and what to watch for in Germany
A PDF menu is small on a phone, must be re-uploaded with every change and carries no translation or allergen information. A QR menu solves this on one page. Below are the differences, the steps to switch and general price-display rules for Germany. This is not legal advice.
PDF menu vs QR menu
| Topic | PDF menu | QR menu (QrConnector) |
|---|---|---|
| Readability on a phone | Page shrinks, guests must zoom | Single column designed for mobile |
| Changing prices or dishes | Rebuild and re-upload the PDF | Edit in the dashboard, the menu is current at once |
| Printed QR code | New file or new code needed | Code stays the same, always opens the current menu |
| Allergens and diets | Buried in text, hard to keep current | 14 allergens and dietary labels per dish |
| Sold out | Cannot be marked in a PDF | Show “sold out” with one tap |
| Photos | Make the file heavy | Photo gallery per dish |
| Language | One file per language | Translation in the Pro plan; menu opens in the guest’s language |
Switching in 4 steps
- 1. Build the menu: enter categories and dishes, add prices, allergens and photos if you have them.
- 2. Check prices: enter amounts as the final price (see below) and state the volume for drinks.
- 3. Download the QR codes and place them on the tables; test the printed code with a phone.
- 4. Remove the old PDF: delete or redirect old menu links on your website, social media, and map or reservation profiles.
Price display in Germany: general principles
Prices shown to consumers in Germany fall under the Price Indication Ordinance (Preisangabenverordnung, PAngV). A digital menu is also a price list. General principles:
- Total price: the amount shown must include VAT (MwSt.) and mandatory service charges. Instead of “+ VAT” or a separate service line, state the amount the guest pays.
- Drinks: for drinks served by the glass or cup, the volume belongs next to the price (for example 0.2 l, 0.5 l).
- Prices must clearly belong to a dish; guests must see without doubt which price goes with which dish.
In QrConnector the amount you enter in the price field is shown exactly as entered; no VAT is added or calculated. Entering the amount including VAT is your responsibility.
Prices and menu must match
The digital menu, the printed menu and the till should show the same price. A lower price in an old PDF left online and a higher one at the till can mislead guests and may lead to a warning (Abmahnung) from competitors or consumer associations.
- When a price changes, update the digital menu and the till the same day.
- Delete the old PDF from your website; remove old links from search engines or redirect them to the new menu.
- Keep allergen and price information the same in the printed and digital menu.
For allergen labelling, also read the guide “Allergen labelling on a digital menu”. This page gives general information; for questions about your business, ask a lawyer or the competent authority.
Turn your PDF menu into a QR menu in minutes
Start for free