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Hiscox Review
120-year-old A+ rated insurer with instant online quotes for 180+ professions — the gold standard for small business insurance
Last reviewed: 2026-04-28 · By GBBR Editorial Team
Our Top Pick · Gold Tier
Hiscox
From $29.17/mo
The Bottom Line
Hiscox is the top pick for small business insurance because it combines genuine financial strength (A+ AM Best, 120+ years in business) with a modern online experience — you can get a bindable quote for general liability, professional liability, or a business owner's policy in under 10 minutes, with no agent required. It earns Gold because it covers the widest range of professions (180+), has one of the lowest complaint ratios in the industry, and starts at around $29/month — affordable enough for a solo freelancer but robust enough for a 50-person firm. It doesn't reach perfect scores because it's slightly more expensive than marketplace comparison tools, and its mobile app is thin compared to app-first competitors.
What is Hiscox?
Hiscox was founded in 1901 in London and entered the US market in 1998. Today it insures over 500,000 small businesses and self-employed professionals across the US, with coverage available in all 50 states. It's particularly known for professional services coverage — IT consultants, designers, accountants, therapists, and other knowledge workers are core customers. Hiscox is A+ rated by AM Best, the highest possible financial strength rating, and it's regulated by the Department of Financial Services in every state it operates. Unlike marketplace aggregators, Hiscox is the actual underwriter and insurer — meaning they handle claims directly with no third-party middleman.
What does Hiscox offer?
Hiscox offers general liability (starting ~$29/month), professional liability / E&O (starting ~$22/month), a business owner's policy that bundles GL + property (starting ~$83/month), cyber liability, workers' compensation (most states), and commercial auto. Coverage is available for 180+ specific profession types. Quotes are fully online, instant, and bindable — you can purchase and receive your certificate of insurance in the same session. A 14-day money-back guarantee applies to most policies.
General Liability
$29.17
/month
Professional Liability
$22.5
/month
Business Owner's Policy
$83
/month
Is Hiscox worth the price?
General liability from ~$29/month — mid-range pricing with A+ carrier strength and instant issuance
Hiscox costs slightly more than marketplace aggregators like Simply Business but less than going through a traditional broker — and you get the security of a direct A+ rated insurer handling claims in-house
Strong valueHow we scored it
Overall score: 88/100
Covers 180+ professions with GL, PL, BOP, cyber, workers' comp, and commercial auto — broadest direct-insurer coverage in this category
Fully online quote and purchase in under 10 minutes — certificate of insurance issued instantly, no agent call required
GL starts ~$29/month — competitive for a direct insurer but slightly above marketplace aggregator quotes for equivalent coverage
Claims handled directly by Hiscox — below-average complaint ratio, dedicated claims team, and a 14-day money-back guarantee on most policies
A+ rated by AM Best — the highest possible financial strength rating. In business 120+ years with $4B+ in net assets
Phone, email, and online portal support during business hours — responsive for policy questions; claims support 24/7 for qualifying events
Why Hiscox is Gold Tier
Hiscox earns Gold because no other small business insurer combines financial strength (A+ AM Best), coverage breadth (180+ professions), quote speed (under 10 minutes), and direct-insurer accountability in one package. It's not perfect — pricing is slightly above the cheapest marketplace options and the mobile app is basic — but for most small business owners who need reliable coverage from a carrier that will be there when they file a claim, Hiscox is the clear category leader.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓A+ AM Best rating — highest possible financial strength for an insurer
- ✓Instant online quote and purchase — certificate of insurance in under 10 minutes
- ✓Covers 180+ professions including niche roles most insurers skip
- ✓Direct insurer — claims handled in-house, no broker middleman
- ✓14-day money-back guarantee on most policies
Cons
- ✗Slightly more expensive than marketplace comparison tools for equivalent base coverage
- ✗Mobile app is basic compared to newer app-first competitors
- ✗Workers' comp not available in all 50 states
- ✗Commercial auto requires agent consultation — no instant online quote
Ready to try Hiscox? Plans start at $29.17/mo.
Get Hiscox — from $29.17/mo →Hiscox earns Gold because no other small business insurer combines financial strength (A+ AM Best), coverage breadth (180+ professions), quote speed (under 10 minutes), and direct-insurer accountability in one package. It's not perfect — pricing is slightly above the cheapest marketplace options and the mobile app is basic — but for most small business owners who need reliable coverage from a carrier that will be there when they file a claim, Hiscox is the clear category leader.
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