How to Set Up a QR Code
Setting up a QR code takes three steps: choose what it should do (open a link, save a contact, send a text), generate the code with that content encoded, and test-scan it with at least one phone before using it publicly.
Beyond generation, "setup" for a print use case also means choosing the right size for the viewing distance, checking contrast against the background it'll sit on, and leaving the quiet-zone margin intact if you're placing it into a larger design layout rather than using it as a standalone image.
Before generating anything, it helps to decide what content type actually fits the goal: a plain URL for a webpage, a vCard for contact sharing, WiFi credentials for network access, or plain text for a short message. Picking the right content type up front avoids having to regenerate and reprint a code later because the wrong format was used.
Static versus dynamic is the other decision worth making deliberately at setup time (see the Static QR Code and Dynamic QR Code entries): a static code is free, works forever, and needs no subscription, but its destination can't change after printing; a dynamic, paid redirect-based code can be updated later at the cost of an ongoing subscription and a dependency on that service staying online.
Once the content and format are settled, the actual generation step is quick, most tools produce a downloadable code in seconds. The remaining setup work is entirely about the physical or digital context the code will live in: confirming size and contrast for print, or confirming the linked page actually loads correctly for digital use, before rolling it out publicly.