Qdos Contractor
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersRearsby, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
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.
Qdos Contractor firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Qdos Contractor industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Qdos Contractor is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rearsby
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Qdos Contractor business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Professional Indemnity Insurance - From £13.50 per month, provides £100k to £5m cover, includes Retroactive Cover for most trades. |
| Subscription | Monthly | Public Liability Insurance - From £4.58 per month, provides £1m to £10m cover, optional Employers Liability. |
| Subscription | Monthly | Legal Protection Insurance - From £5.88 per month, cover up to £50k for legal disputes, jury service cover £500 per day up to £5k. |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Qdos Contractor product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Qdos Contractor
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Qdos Contractor technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Qdos Contractor partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- The Slice NetworkminorThe 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)coreQdos 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)coreQdos 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)coreQdos 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
Qdos Contractor competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Qdos Contractor social profiles
Digital presenceQdos Contractor compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Qdos Contractor financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Qdos Contractor leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Qdos Contractor funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Qdos Contractor M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Qdos Contractor
What does Qdos Contractor do?
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.
Is Qdos Contractor a public or private company?
Qdos Contractor is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Qdos Contractor founded?
Qdos Contractor was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Qdos Contractor based?
Qdos Contractor is headquartered in Rearsby, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Qdos Contractor make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Insurance Products are the primary driver. The others are IR35 Compliance Services and commercial Contract Reviews.
Who are Qdos Contractor's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kingsbridge Contractor Insurance, Dolan Contractor Insurance and IR35 Shield. Broad incumbents are Markel UK, Hiscox UK and Howden Group. Emerging players are Brookson Group and IR35 Contracts (OrangeGenie). Parasol Group is listed as a regional player. StatusQuo360 / ContractorTaxCalculator-style UK IR35 specialists is listed as an others.
Does Qdos Contractor have an API?
No public API is recorded for Qdos Contractor.
What industry is Qdos Contractor in?
Qdos Contractor's product category is Specialist Contractor Insurance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAJAFAD, Contractors BOP / Artisan Package, with a secondary code of FSAJAGAH, Construction Specialty (Wrap-Ups/Builders Risk/Contractors). Its NAICS code is 524210 and its SIC code is 6411.