Simply Business vs Hiscox: US vs UK Brand Explained 2026

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Simply Business and Hiscox are both UK-origin companies that operate in the US small business insurance market. American buyers sometimes encounter both brands when shopping for coverage and are unsure how they differ. The answer is that they serve fundamentally different functions. Hiscox is an insurance carrier: they write and back policies directly. Simply Business is an insurance broker marketplace: they connect you with carriers including Hiscox. Understanding this distinction first makes the rest of the comparison straightforward.

Quick Verdict

	Simply Business	Hiscox
What it is	Insurance broker marketplace	Insurance carrier
Best for	Price comparison across multiple carriers	Professional service businesses needing E&O
Starting price	Varies by carrier selected	~$30/mo
Online quote	Yes, multi-carrier	Yes, same-day
AM Best rating	Varies (you pick the carrier)	A
Our pick	When you want to compare quotes	When you need professional liability from a trusted carrier

Simply Business Overview

Simply Business was founded in the UK in 2005 and launched a US business in 2017. In the US, Simply Business operates as an insurance broker and marketplace owned by Travelers. You complete one application and receive quotes from multiple carriers in their network. Carriers in the Simply Business US network have included Hiscox, Markel, and others depending on your business classification and state.

How it works: Single application, multiple carrier quotes. You compare and select. The policy is issued by the carrier. Simply Business is the distribution channel.

Coverage types facilitated: GL, professional liability, BOP, commercial auto, workers comp. Coverage availability depends on your business type and which carriers are active in the Simply Business network for your classification.

Pricing: No fee to use Simply Business. You pay the carrier rate. Pricing varies based on which carriers are returned for your profile.

Pros:

• See multiple carrier quotes in one application.
• Access to established carriers (Hiscox, Markel, others) through a single point of entry.
• No additional cost beyond the carrier rate.

Cons:

• Simply Business does not issue the policy. You are buying from the carrier they connect you with.
• Network depth varies by classification. Some business types receive limited or no options.
• You need to understand what you are comparing when evaluating quotes across different carriers.
• A lower-priced quote may have narrower coverage than a more expensive one.

Hiscox Overview

Hiscox writes small business insurance directly in the US. Their primary strength is professional liability and errors and omissions for service businesses: consultants, designers, marketers, IT contractors, accountants, HR consultants, and similar knowledge workers. They also offer GL, BOP, and other commercial lines.

Coverage options: GL, professional liability (E&O), BOP, cyber, workers comp, commercial auto.

Pricing: GL starts around $30 per month. Professional liability for small service firms runs $40 to $90 per month. Bundled GL and professional liability typically costs less than buying each separately.

Pros:

• A AM Best rating.
• ISO CGL standard form.
• Strong professional liability programs for knowledge work service businesses.
• Bundled GL and E&O pricing that is competitive for small professional service firms.
• Long US market track record.

Cons:

• Not the most competitive for contractor and trade GL.
• Pricing for multi-employee businesses needing workers comp alongside GL is less competitive than multi-line carriers like The Hartford.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Core function: The most important distinction. Hiscox is the carrier backing your policy. Simply Business is the marketplace that might connect you to Hiscox (or Markel, or another carrier). If Simply Business connects you to Hiscox, you have a Hiscox policy facilitated through Simply Business. If you go directly to Hiscox, you have the same policy without the intermediary.

Which is "better" for professional service businesses: Hiscox directly, or through Simply Business if their network returns competitive Hiscox pricing. The policy is identical. The question is whether Simply Business returns lower prices from Hiscox or from competing carriers in their network.

Price comparison: Simply Business gives you more data points. You see multiple quotes. This is more useful than going to Hiscox alone if you want to benchmark.

Coverage reliability: When you buy through Simply Business and they connect you to Hiscox, you have a Hiscox policy. The coverage is the same as buying from Hiscox directly. The carrier's AM Best rating, policy form, and claims process are the same.

For contractor businesses: Neither Simply Business nor Hiscox is the strongest fit. Simply Business may return Markel contractor GL which can be competitive. Hiscox is available for contractors but prices at the higher end. For contractor GL specifically, Next Insurance is a stronger starting point.

For professional service businesses: Hiscox directly is the cleaner path if you know you want Hiscox. Simply Business is useful if you want to confirm that Hiscox is competitively priced versus alternatives before buying.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Simply Business if:

• You are early in the shopping process and want to compare several carrier options at once.
• You are price-sensitive and want to confirm whether Hiscox, Markel, or another carrier in the network offers the best rate for your profile.
• You have a straightforward coverage need and want to benchmark quickly.

Choose Hiscox directly if:

• You already know you want Hiscox's professional liability program.
• You have been quoted by both and Hiscox's direct pricing is competitive.
• You want to manage your policy directly with the carrier without a broker layer.

The practical path: Use Simply Business first to benchmark. If they return a Hiscox quote you like, you can purchase through Simply Business or go directly to Hiscox. If they return a Markel or other carrier quote that is cheaper and the coverage is comparable, that is the value of using Simply Business.

Alternatives to Consider

Next Insurance: For contractors and physical service businesses where GL is the primary need and speed matters, Next Insurance is a stronger fit than either Simply Business or Hiscox. See our comparison of Next Insurance vs Hiscox.

Insureon: Another broker marketplace similar to Simply Business. Insureon's network includes Hiscox, Markel, Chubb, and others. For businesses that want to compare multiple carrier options, running both Simply Business and Insureon gives you the most complete picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Simply Business UK and Simply Business US the same company?

Same parent brand, separate operations. Simply Business UK is a major broker in the UK market. Simply Business US operates as a separate brokerage serving American small businesses. Coverage, carriers, and policy terms in the US are entirely different from the UK operation.

Are Hiscox UK and Hiscox US the same?

Same parent company, different operations for each market. Hiscox US policies are governed by US insurance regulations and backed by Hiscox US entities. Coverage terms differ from Hiscox UK. For US businesses, only Hiscox US policies are relevant.

If I bought through Simply Business and have a claim, who do I call?

You contact the carrier that issued the policy, not Simply Business. If Simply Business connected you to Hiscox, your claims process is with Hiscox directly. Simply Business may assist with initial support, but the claims relationship is with the carrier.

Can Simply Business connect me to Hiscox in all 50 states?

Network availability varies by state and classification. Simply Business may return Hiscox quotes in some states and different carriers or no options in others. Confirm what is available for your specific state and business type.

Is there a price difference between buying Hiscox through Simply Business vs. directly?

Sometimes minimal. Broker commissions are factored into carrier pricing structures. You typically pay the same or very close to the same whether you buy Hiscox through Simply Business or directly from hiscox.com. The benefit of Simply Business is comparison, not lower pricing.

Disclaimer

AM Best rating for Hiscox: A. Simply Business is a broker; the AM Best rating of your policy depends on the carrier selected. Neither Simply Business nor Hiscox is the primary affiliate for this article. Pricing estimates are illustrative. Actual premiums vary by business type, revenue, state, and coverage selections.

Sources

• Simply Business US: simplybusiness.com
• Hiscox US: hiscox.com/small-business-insurance
• Travelers Companies (Simply Business parent): travelers.com
• AM Best ratings: ambest.com