> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.upstackdata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# New Customer Gateway Cost: Payment Processing for First-Time Buyers

> Track payment gateway fees from new customer orders. Understand first-time buyer processing costs and segment transaction expenses by customer type.

<Tip>
  Total payment gateway fees for orders placed by new customers.
</Tip>

## Formula

<Info>
  **New Customer Gateway Cost** = **SUM** ( [**Gateway Cost**](/reference/metrics/orders/transaction/gateway-cost) ) **WHERE** [customer\_type = new\_customer](/data-dictionary/measures-and-dimensions)
</Info>

### Formula Components

| Metric                                                                         | Definition                                                                    |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [**Gateway Cost**](/reference/metrics/orders/transaction/gateway-cost)         | Payment gateway processing fees including flat fees and percentage-based fees |
| [**customer\_type = new\_customer**](/data-dictionary/measures-and-dimensions) | Filter to include only first-time purchasers                                  |

| Metadata        |                             |
| --------------- | --------------------------- |
| **Type**        | Currency                    |
| **Data Source** | [Shopify](/sources/shopify) |
| **Aggregation** | Sum                         |

***

## Example

Your store processed **\$1,247** in gateway fees from new customers in January:

| Customer Type       | Orders | Gateway Cost | Avg per Order |
| ------------------- | ------ | ------------ | ------------- |
| New Customers       | 412    | \$1,247      | \$3.03        |
| Returning Customers | 835    | \$2,089      | \$2.50        |

New customers have higher per-order gateway costs due to smaller average order values.

***

## How It Works

This metric sums all payment gateway processing fees—including percentage-based fees and flat per-transaction charges—for orders placed by first-time customers. Shopify identifies new customers as those with no prior order history in your store.

***

## When to Use

| Scenario                      | Action                                                            |
| ----------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Customer acquisition analysis | Compare gateway costs between new and returning segments          |
| LTV modeling                  | Include acquisition-phase transaction costs in customer economics |
| Processor negotiation         | Benchmark new customer fees to negotiate better rates             |
| CM2 segmentation              | Understand how transaction costs vary by customer type            |

***

## Related Metrics

| Metric                                                                                                   | Relationship                                 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| [Gateway Cost](/reference/metrics/orders/transaction/gateway-cost)                                       | Parent metric (all customers combined)       |
| [Returning Customer Gateway Cost](/reference/metrics/orders/transaction/returning-customer-gateway-cost) | Same metric for repeat buyers                |
| [Total Transaction Cost](/reference/metrics/orders/transaction/total-transaction-cost)                   | Includes gateway plus other transaction fees |
| [New Customer Revenue](/reference/metrics/orders/revenue/new-customer-total-revenue)                     | Revenue side of new customer economics       |

[See all Transaction Cost metrics →](/reference/metrics/orders/transaction)