Qdos Contractor

What Qdos Contractor does

Qdos Contractor is a UK-based insurance broker and IR35 compliance services provider, trading as Qdos and operating through the legal entity Qdos Broker & Underwriting Services Ltd. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Rearsby, Leicester, the company serves over 100,000 small businesses, primarily limited company contractors, sole traders, freelancers, and the recruitment agencies and end clients that engage them. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of HCC International Insurance Company plc, part of the Tokio Marine Group, which provides capital backing and underwriting market access.

The company's core offering is a dual product-and-service platform combining a portfolio of business insurance products (Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, Employers Liability, Legal Protection, Tax Liability Cover, Contractors All Risk, Income Protection, and Personal Accident Insurance) with specialist IR35 compliance services. The technology foundation is a digital self-service portal at my.goqdos.com for quoting and policy management, supplemented by a dedicated account management team and an inside sales function. The flagship IR35 product is the Status Review assessment tool, positioned as a trusted alternative to HMRC's CEST, built on 23+ years of in-house IR35 expertise. Supporting toolkits include IR35 contract templates, recruiter checklists, and status determination statement templates.

Qdos monetises through insurance commissions on brokered and underwritten policies, fee-based IR35 assessments and audits, and commercial contract reviews. Pricing is granular and subscription-based for insurance (e.g., Professional Indemnity from £13.50/month, Public Liability from £4.58/month, Legal Protection from £5.88/month), with IR35 and contract review services offered as quote-based consultative engagements. The company is FCA-authorised and regulated (FRN: 460886), FCSA-accredited, and an APSCo Trusted Partner, with the Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation 2022 and consecutive Feefo service awards reinforcing its credibility in a regulatory-driven niche.

Name

Qdos Contractor

Legal name

Qdos Broker & Underwriting Services Ltd

Website

https://qdoscontractor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Qdos Contractor is a UK-based insurance broker and IR35 compliance services provider, serving over 100,000 contractors, freelancers, sole traders, and small businesses, and operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokio Marine Group's HCC International Insurance Company.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialist Contractor Insurance

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)

akta.pro primary industry

Contractors BOP / Artisan Package (FSAJAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction Specialty (Wrap-Ups/Builders Risk/Contractors) (FSAJAGAH), Independent Contractor Compliance & Classification (IC vs Employee) (BPACAGAA), Agent of Record (AOR) / Contractor Engagement Services (BPACAGAB), Contractor Payroll, Invoicing & Payment Services (BPACAGAD)

Keywords

• Contractor insurance
• IR35 compliance services
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Public liability insurance
• Self-employment tax advice

Headquarters

HQ city

Rearsby

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance Products: Qdos acts as a broker and underwriting services provider, earning commissions on insurance policies sold to contractors, freelancers, and small businesses. Policies include Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, Employers Liability, Legal Protection, Tax Liability Cover, Contractors All Risk, Income Protection, and Personal Accident Insurance.
2. IR35 Compliance Services: Fee-based IR35 assessment (Status Review), IR35 audits, contract health checks, full IR35 reviews, and working practices reviews. Offered as standalone or bundled consultancy services.
3. Commercial Contract Reviews: Commercial contract review services including Contract Health Check, Full IR35 Review, IR35 Contract Assessment, and Working Practices Review for contractors and end clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Qdos Contractor provides specialist business insurance products (Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, Employers Liability, Legal Protection, Tax Liability Cover, Contractors All Risk, Income Protection, and Personal Accident Insurance) and IR35/off-payroll compliance services (Status Review assessments, contract reviews, IR35 audits, tailored policies, working practices reviews, consultancy, and training) for UK self-employed contractors, freelancers, sole traders, and the recruitment agencies and end clients that engage them. The company acts as both an FCA-authorised insurance broker/underwriting agent and an IR35 compliance specialist, distributing policies via a self-service digital portal backed by dedicated account managers.

Product overview

Qdos Contractor offers a dual-purpose platform combining business insurance products and IR35 compliance services for self-employed professionals, contractors, freelancers, and the businesses that engage them. The insurance portfolio includes Professional Indemnity (from £13.50/month), Public Liability (from £4.58/month), Legal Protection (from £5.88/month), plus Employers Liability, Tax Liability Cover, Contractors All Risk, Income Protection, and Personal Accident Insurance. The IR35 service suite, anchored by the Status Review assessment tool (positioned as an alternative to HMRC's CEST), includes contract reviews, audits, tailored policies, and an advice helpline, complemented by free toolkit resources including IR35 contract templates, checklists, and status determination statement templates. The company differentiates through a dedicated account management model and price match promise, serving over 100,000 small businesses with FCA-authorized services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Indemnity Insurance

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 small businesses trust Qdos for insurance needs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Slice NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Slice Network, the UK's leading community for fractional marketing and communications leaders, has partnered with Qdos to provide members with access to Qdos's specialist business insurance, tax, and compliance services.
• Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQdos holds APSCo Trusted Partner status, indicating a formalised relationship supporting recruitment industry compliance. Qdos provides IR35 and insurance services tailored to the recruitment sector.
• Freelancer & Contractor Services Association (FCSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQdos is FCSA accredited, providing compliant services to freelancers and contractors under the association's standards and governance framework.
• HCC International Insurance Company plc (Tokio Marine Group)coreOthersQdos Broker & Underwriting Services Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of HCC International Insurance Company plc, a member of the Tokio Marine Group of Companies. This is a parent-subsidiary ownership relationship providing capital backing and insurance market access.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kingsbridge Contractor Insurance: UK specialist broker offering contractor insurance (Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, IR35 cover) and IR35 status tools. Directly comparable to Qdos in target customer (limited company contractors), product mix, and UK niche focus.
• Dolan Contractor Insurance: UK broker focused on insurance for contractors, freelancers, and self-employed professionals. Directly competes with Qdos in PI, Public Liability, and other contractor-specific covers, with a similar SMB/individual target segment.
• IR35 Shield: UK-based IR35 status determination and contract review service. Directly comparable to Qdos's Status Review tool and contract review offerings, serving the same contractor and end-client audience for off-payroll compliance.

Broad incumbents

• Markel UK: Large UK insurer offering professional indemnity, liability, and specialist contractor/consultant insurance. Overlaps with Qdos's insurance product set but serves a broader professional services and SME market rather than focusing solely on contractors.
• Hiscox UK: Major UK specialist insurer with Professional Indemnity and liability products targeted at consultants, contractors, and small businesses. Comparable on insurance product lines but broader in customer base than Qdos's contractor-only niche.
• Howden Group: Large international insurance broker with UK operations serving SMEs and individuals, including professional indemnity and liability lines. Overlaps with Qdos on contractor-facing insurance but operates across many segments.

Emerging players

• Brookson Group: UK provider of accountancy, tax, and IR35 compliance services for contractors and freelancers. Partial overlap with Qdos on the IR35/employment-status side, while focusing less on insurance brokerage.
• IR35 Contracts (OrangeGenie): UK specialist in IR35 contract reviews and compliance services for contractors and end clients. Directly competes with Qdos's contract review and Status Review services within the same UK contractor segment.

Regional players

• Parasol Group: UK umbrella company and contractor employment solutions provider with adjacent IR35/compliance services. Comparable to Qdos's UK contractor compliance offering but structured as an employer/umbrella rather than a broker.

Others

• StatusQuo360 / ContractorTaxCalculator-style UK IR35 specialists: UK contractor-focused advisory and tool providers (e.g., ContractorUK ecosystem) that compete for the same contractor mindshare on IR35 and tax topics. Adjacent rather than directly overlapping with Qdos's insurance + IR35 bundle.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GoQdos
• Facebookfacebook.com/QdosContractorPage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qdos-contractor
• Instagraminstagram.com/goqdos
• Xx.com/Qdoscontractor

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Qdos Contractor