diff --git a/openfecli/commands/gather.py b/openfecli/commands/gather.py
index cbb2b93f6..655907a98 100644
--- a/openfecli/commands/gather.py
+++ b/openfecli/commands/gather.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 from openfecli import OFECommandPlugin
 from openfecli.clicktypes import HyphenAwareChoice
+from openfecli.commands.quickrun import _QuickrunResult
 
 FAIL_STR = "Error"  # string used to indicate a failed run in output tables.
 
@@ -181,30 +182,7 @@ def is_results_json(fpath: os.PathLike | str) -> bool:
     return "estimate" in open(fpath, "r").read(20)
 
 
-def load_json(fpath: os.PathLike | str) -> dict:
-    """Load a JSON file containing a gufe object.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    fpath : os.PathLike | str
-        The path to a gufe-serialized JSON.
-
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    dict
-        A dict containing data from the results JSON.
-
-    """
-    # TODO: move this function to openfe/utils
-    import json
-
-    from gufe.tokenization import JSON_HANDLER
-
-    return json.load(open(fpath, "r"), cls=JSON_HANDLER.decoder)
-
-
-def _get_names(result: dict) -> tuple[str, str]:
+def _get_names(result: _QuickrunResult) -> tuple[str, str]:
     """Get the ligand names from a unit's results data.
 
     Parameters
@@ -219,7 +197,7 @@ def _get_names(result: dict) -> tuple[str, str]:
     """
 
     # TODO: I don't like this [0][0] indexing, but I can't think of a better way currently
-    protocol_data = list(result["protocol_result"]["data"].values())[0][0]
+    protocol_data = list(result.protocol_result["data"].values())[0][0]
     try:
         name_A = protocol_data["inputs"]["setup_results"]["inputs"]["ligandmapping"]["componentA"][
             "molprops"
@@ -234,10 +212,10 @@ def _get_names(result: dict) -> tuple[str, str]:
     return str(name_A), str(name_B)
 
 
-def _get_type(result: dict) -> Literal["vacuum", "solvent", "complex"]:
+def _get_type(result: _QuickrunResult) -> Literal["vacuum", "solvent", "complex"]:
     """Determine the simulation type based on the component types."""
 
-    protocol_data = list(result["protocol_result"]["data"].values())[0][0]
+    protocol_data = list(result.protocol_result["data"].values())[0][0]
     try:
         component_types = [
             x["__module__"]
@@ -270,7 +248,7 @@ def _legacy_get_type(res_fn: os.PathLike | str) -> Literal["vacuum", "solvent",
 
 
 def _get_result_id(
-    result: dict, result_fn: os.PathLike | str
+    result: _QuickrunResult, result_fn: os.PathLike | str
 ) -> tuple[tuple[str, str], Literal["vacuum", "solvent", "complex"]]:
     """Extract the name and simulation type from a results dict.
 
@@ -296,7 +274,9 @@ def _get_result_id(
     return (ligA, ligB), simtype
 
 
-def _load_valid_result_json(fpath: os.PathLike | str) -> tuple[tuple | None, dict | None]:
+def _load_valid_result_json(
+    fpath: os.PathLike | str,
+) -> tuple[tuple | None, _QuickrunResult | None]:
     """Load the data from a results JSON into a dict.
 
     Parameters
@@ -311,25 +291,25 @@ def _load_valid_result_json(fpath: os.PathLike | str) -> tuple[tuple | None, dic
         or None if the JSON file is invalid or missing.
 
     """
-
     # TODO: only load this once during collection, then pass namedtuple(fname, dict) into this function
     # for now though, it's not the bottleneck on performance
-    result = load_json(fpath)
+    result = _QuickrunResult.from_json(fpath)
+
     try:
         result_id = _get_result_id(result, fpath)
     except (ValueError, IndexError):
         click.secho(f"{fpath}: Missing ligand names and/or simulation type. Skipping.",err=True, fg="yellow")  # fmt: skip
         return None, None
-    if result["estimate"] is None:
+    if result.estimate is None:
         click.secho(f"{fpath}: No 'estimate' found, assuming to be a failed simulation.",err=True, fg="yellow")  # fmt: skip
         return result_id, None
-    if result["uncertainty"] is None:
+    if result.uncertainty is None:
         click.secho(f"{fpath}: No 'uncertainty' found, assuming to be a failed simulation.",err=True, fg="yellow")  # fmt: skip
         return result_id, None
-    if result["unit_results"] == {}:
+    if result.unit_results == {}:
         click.secho(f"{fpath}: No 'unit_results' found, assuming to be a failed simulation.",err=True, fg="yellow")  # fmt: skip
         return result_id, None
-    if all("exception" in u for u in result["unit_results"].values()):
+    if all("exception" in u for u in result.unit_results.values()):
         click.secho(f"{fpath}: Exception found in all 'unit_results', assuming to be a failed simulation.",err=True, fg="yellow")  # fmt: skip
         return result_id, None
 
@@ -682,7 +662,7 @@ def _get_legs_from_result_jsons(
                             v[0]["outputs"]["unit_estimate"],
                             v[0]["outputs"]["unit_estimate_error"],
                         )
-                        for v in result["protocol_result"]["data"].values()
+                        for v in result.protocol_result["data"].values()
                     ]
                 legs[names][simtype].append(parsed_raw_data)
             else:
@@ -692,7 +672,7 @@ def _get_legs_from_result_jsons(
                 else:
                     dGs = [
                         v[0]["outputs"]["unit_estimate"]
-                        for v in result["protocol_result"]["data"].values()
+                        for v in result.protocol_result["data"].values()
                     ]
                 legs[names][simtype].extend(dGs)
     return legs
diff --git a/openfecli/commands/gather_abfe.py b/openfecli/commands/gather_abfe.py
index a541bfc52..6b836585f 100644
--- a/openfecli/commands/gather_abfe.py
+++ b/openfecli/commands/gather_abfe.py
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@
 from openfecli.commands.gather import (
     _collect_result_jsons,
     format_df_with_precision,
-    load_json,
     rich_print_to_stdout,
 )
+from openfecli.quickrun_result import _QuickrunResult
 
 
-def _get_name(result: dict) -> str:
+def _get_name(result: _QuickrunResult) -> str:
     """Get the ligand name from a unit's results data.
 
     Parameters
@@ -32,13 +32,15 @@ def _get_name(result: dict) -> str:
         Ligand name corresponding to the results.
     """
 
-    solvent_data = list(result["protocol_result"]["data"]["solvent"].values())[0][0]
+    solvent_data = list(result.protocol_result["data"]["solvent"].values())[0][0]
     name = solvent_data["inputs"]["alchemical_components"]["stateA"][0]["molprops"]["ofe-name"]
 
     return str(name)
 
 
-def _load_valid_result_json(fpath: os.PathLike | str) -> tuple[tuple | None, dict | None]:
+def _load_valid_result_json(
+    fpath: os.PathLike | str,
+) -> tuple[tuple | None, _QuickrunResult | None]:
     """Load the data from a results JSON into a dict.
 
     Parameters
@@ -63,19 +65,19 @@ def _load_valid_result_json(fpath: os.PathLike | str) -> tuple[tuple | None, dic
 
     # TODO: only load this once during collection, then pass namedtuple(fname, dict) into this function
     # for now though, it's not the bottleneck on performance
-    result = load_json(fpath)
+    result = _QuickrunResult.from_json(fpath)
     try:
         names = _get_name(result)
     except (ValueError, IndexError):
         click.secho(f"{fpath}: Missing ligand names and/or simulation type. Skipping.",err=True, fg="yellow")  # fmt: skip
         return None, None
-    if result["estimate"] is None:
+    if result.estimate is None:
         click.secho(f"{fpath}: No 'estimate' found, assuming to be a failed simulation.",err=True, fg="yellow")  # fmt: skip
         return names, None
-    if result["uncertainty"] is None:
+    if result.uncertainty is None:
         click.secho(f"{fpath}: No 'uncertainty' found, assuming to be a failed simulation.",err=True, fg="yellow")  # fmt: skip
         return names, None
-    if all("exception" in u for u in result["unit_results"].values()):
+    if all("exception" in u for u in result.unit_results.values()):
         click.secho(f"{fpath}: Exception found in all 'unit_results', assuming to be a failed simulation.",err=True, fg="yellow")  # fmt: skip
         return names, None
     return names, result
@@ -110,17 +112,17 @@ def _get_legs_from_result_jsons(
         if name is None:  # this means it couldn't find name and/or simtype
             continue
 
-        dgs[name]["overall"].append([result["estimate"], result["uncertainty"]])
-        proto_key = [k for k in result["unit_results"].keys() if k.startswith("ProtocolUnitResult")]
+        dgs[name]["overall"].append([result.estimate, result.uncertainty])
+        proto_key = [k for k in result.unit_results.keys() if k.startswith("ProtocolUnitResult")]
         for p in proto_key:
-            if "unit_estimate" in result["unit_results"][p]["outputs"]:
-                simtype = result["unit_results"][p]["outputs"]["simtype"]
-                dg = result["unit_results"][p]["outputs"]["unit_estimate"]
-                dg_error = result["unit_results"][p]["outputs"]["unit_estimate_error"]
+            if "unit_estimate" in result.unit_results[p]["outputs"]:
+                simtype = result.unit_results[p]["outputs"]["simtype"]
+                dg = result.unit_results[p]["outputs"]["unit_estimate"]
+                dg_error = result.unit_results[p]["outputs"]["unit_estimate_error"]
 
                 dgs[name][simtype].append([dg, dg_error])
-            if "standard_state_correction" in result["unit_results"][p]["outputs"]:
-                corr = result["unit_results"][p]["outputs"]["standard_state_correction"]
+            if "standard_state_correction" in result.unit_results[p]["outputs"]:
+                corr = result.unit_results[p]["outputs"]["standard_state_correction"]
                 dgs[name]["standard_state_correction"].append([corr, 0 * unit.kilocalorie_per_mole])
             else:
                 continue
diff --git a/openfecli/commands/gather_septop.py b/openfecli/commands/gather_septop.py
index 9a027a757..3fae2a171 100644
--- a/openfecli/commands/gather_septop.py
+++ b/openfecli/commands/gather_septop.py
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@
 from openfecli.commands.gather import (
     _collect_result_jsons,
     format_df_with_precision,
-    load_json,
     rich_print_to_stdout,
 )
+from openfecli.quickrun_result import _QuickrunResult
 
 
 def _load_valid_result_json(fpath: os.PathLike | str) -> tuple[tuple | None, dict | None]:
@@ -44,19 +44,19 @@ def _load_valid_result_json(fpath: os.PathLike | str) -> tuple[tuple | None, dic
 
     # TODO: only load this once during collection, then pass namedtuple(fname, dict) into this function
     # for now though, it's not the bottleneck on performance
-    result = load_json(fpath)
+    result = _QuickrunResult.from_json(fpath)
     try:
         names = _get_names(result)
     except (ValueError, IndexError):
         click.secho(f"{fpath}: Missing ligand names and/or simulation type. Skipping.",err=True, fg="yellow")  # fmt: skip
         return None, None
-    if result["estimate"] is None:
+    if result.estimate is None:
         click.secho(f"{fpath}: No 'estimate' found, assuming to be a failed simulation.",err=True, fg="yellow")  # fmt: skip
         return names, None
-    if result["uncertainty"] is None:
+    if result.uncertainty is None:
         click.secho(f"{fpath}: No 'uncertainty' found, assuming to be a failed simulation.",err=True, fg="yellow")  # fmt: skip
         return names, None
-    if all("exception" in u for u in result["unit_results"].values()):
+    if all("exception" in u for u in result.unit_results.values()):
         click.secho(f"{fpath}: Exception found in all 'unit_results', assuming to be a failed simulation.",err=True, fg="yellow")  # fmt: skip
         return names, None
     return names, result
@@ -91,22 +91,22 @@ def _get_legs_from_result_jsons(
         if names is None:  # this means it couldn't find names and/or simtype
             continue
 
-        ddgs[names]["overall"].append([result["estimate"], result["uncertainty"]])
+        ddgs[names]["overall"].append([result.estimate, result.uncertainty])
         proto_key = [
             k
-            for k in result["unit_results"].keys()
+            for k in result.unit_results.keys()
             if k.startswith("ProtocolUnitResult")
         ]  # fmt: skip
         for p in proto_key:
-            if "unit_estimate" in result["unit_results"][p]["outputs"]:
-                simtype = result["unit_results"][p]["outputs"]["simtype"]
-                dg = result["unit_results"][p]["outputs"]["unit_estimate"]
-                dg_error = result["unit_results"][p]["outputs"]["unit_estimate_error"]
+            if "unit_estimate" in result.unit_results[p]["outputs"]:
+                simtype = result.unit_results[p]["outputs"]["simtype"]
+                dg = result.unit_results[p]["outputs"]["unit_estimate"]
+                dg_error = result.unit_results[p]["outputs"]["unit_estimate_error"]
 
                 ddgs[names][simtype].append([dg, dg_error])
-            elif "standard_state_correction_A" in result["unit_results"][p]["outputs"]:
-                corr_A = result["unit_results"][p]["outputs"]["standard_state_correction_A"]
-                corr_B = result["unit_results"][p]["outputs"]["standard_state_correction_B"]
+            elif "standard_state_correction_A" in result.unit_results[p]["outputs"]:
+                corr_A = result.unit_results[p]["outputs"]["standard_state_correction_A"]
+                corr_B = result.unit_results[p]["outputs"]["standard_state_correction_B"]
                 ddgs[names]["standard_state_correction_A"].append(
                     [corr_A, 0 * unit.kilocalorie_per_mole]
                 )
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def _get_legs_from_result_jsons(
     return ddgs
 
 
-def _get_names(result: dict) -> tuple[str, str]:
+def _get_names(result: _QuickrunResult) -> tuple[str, str]:
     """Get the ligand names from a unit's results data.
 
     Parameters
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ def _get_names(result: dict) -> tuple[str, str]:
         Ligand names corresponding to the results.
     """
 
-    solvent_data = list(result["protocol_result"]["data"]["solvent"].values())[0][0]
+    solvent_data = list(result.protocol_result["data"]["solvent"].values())[0][0]
 
     name_A = solvent_data["inputs"]["alchemical_components"]["stateA"][0]["molprops"]["ofe-name"]
     name_B = solvent_data["inputs"]["alchemical_components"]["stateB"][0]["molprops"]["ofe-name"]
diff --git a/openfecli/commands/quickrun.py b/openfecli/commands/quickrun.py
index f34410d69..f52df614e 100644
--- a/openfecli/commands/quickrun.py
+++ b/openfecli/commands/quickrun.py
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 # This code is part of OpenFE and is licensed under the MIT license.
 # For details, see https://github.com/OpenFreeEnergy/openfe
 
-import json
 import pathlib
 
 import click
 
 from openfecli import OFECommandPlugin
+from openfecli.quickrun_result import _QuickrunResult
 from openfecli.utils import configure_logger, print_duration, write
 
 
@@ -114,17 +114,14 @@ def quickrun(transformation, work_dir, output):
     else:
         estimate = uncertainty = None  # for output file
 
-    out_dict = {
-        "estimate": estimate,
-        "uncertainty": uncertainty,
-        "protocol_result": prot_result.to_dict(),
-        "unit_results": {
-            unit.key: unit.to_keyed_dict() for unit in dagresult.protocol_unit_results
-        },
-    }
-
-    with open(output, mode="w") as outf:
-        json.dump(out_dict, outf, cls=JSON_HANDLER.encoder)
+    quickrun_result = _QuickrunResult(
+        estimate=estimate,
+        uncertainty=uncertainty,
+        protocol_result=prot_result.to_dict(),
+        unit_results={unit.key: unit.to_keyed_dict() for unit in dagresult.protocol_unit_results},
+    )
+
+    quickrun_result.to_json(output)
 
     write(f"Here is the result:\n\tdG = {estimate} ± {uncertainty}\n")
     write("")
diff --git a/openfecli/quickrun_result.py b/openfecli/quickrun_result.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e3c79118b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openfecli/quickrun_result.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+import json
+from dataclasses import asdict, dataclass
+from os import PathLike
+from typing import Any, Self
+
+from gufe.tokenization import JSON_HANDLER
+from openff.units import Quantity
+
+
+@dataclass
+class _QuickrunResult:
+    """
+    Class for storing protocol result data along with useful metadata.
+    Could ProtocolResults store this data alongside ``n_protocol_dag_results``?
+    """
+
+    estimate: Quantity
+    uncertainty: Quantity
+    protocol_result: dict[str, Any]
+    unit_results: dict[int, dict]
+
+    def to_json(self, filepath) -> None:
+        with open(filepath, mode="w") as file:
+            json.dump(asdict(self), file, cls=JSON_HANDLER.encoder)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_json(cls, file: PathLike | None, content: str | None = None) -> Self:
+        """Load a JSON file containing a gufe object.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        fpath : os.PathLike | str
+            The path to a results JSON generated by ``openfe quickrun``.
+
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        _QuickrunResult
+            A _QuickrunResult instance containing the data from ``file, co``.
+
+        """
+        # similar to gufe.tokenization.from_json
+        if content is not None and file is not None:
+            raise ValueError("Cannot specify both `content` and `file`; only one input allowed")
+        elif content is None and file is None:
+            raise ValueError("Must specify either `content` and `file` for JSON input")
+        if file:
+            data = json.load(open(file, "r"), cls=JSON_HANDLER.decoder)
+        if content:
+            data = json.loads(content, cls=JSON_HANDLER.decoder)
+        return cls(**data)
diff --git a/openfecli/tests/commands/test_gather.py b/openfecli/tests/commands/test_gather.py
index 1cae95aa8..60d8ccc36 100644
--- a/openfecli/tests/commands/test_gather.py
+++ b/openfecli/tests/commands/test_gather.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 )
 from openfecli.commands.gather_abfe import gather_abfe
 from openfecli.commands.gather_septop import gather_septop
+from openfecli.commands.quickrun import _QuickrunResult
 
 from ..conftest import HAS_INTERNET
 from ..utils import assert_click_success
@@ -68,62 +69,88 @@ def test_get_column(val, col):
     assert _get_column(val) == col
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def min_valid_quickrun_result(min_result_json):
+    return _QuickrunResult(**min_result_json)
+
+
 class TestResultLoading:
-    def test_minimal_valid_results(self, capsys, min_result_json):
-        with mock.patch("openfecli.commands.gather.load_json", return_value=min_result_json):
+    def test_minimal_valid_results(self, capsys, min_valid_quickrun_result):
+        with mock.patch(
+            "openfecli.commands.gather._QuickrunResult.from_json",
+            return_value=min_valid_quickrun_result,
+        ):
             result = _load_valid_result_json(fpath="")
             captured = capsys.readouterr()
-            assert result == ((("lig_ejm_31", "lig_ejm_42"), "solvent"), min_result_json)
+            assert result == ((("lig_ejm_31", "lig_ejm_42"), "solvent"), min_valid_quickrun_result)
             assert captured.err == ""
 
-    def test_skip_missing_unit_result(self, capsys, min_result_json):
-        min_result_json["unit_results"] = {}
+    def test_skip_missing_unit_result(self, capsys, min_valid_quickrun_result):
+        min_valid_quickrun_result.unit_results = {}
 
-        with mock.patch("openfecli.commands.gather.load_json", return_value=min_result_json):
+        with mock.patch(
+            "openfecli.commands.gather._QuickrunResult.from_json",
+            return_value=min_valid_quickrun_result,
+        ):
             result = _load_valid_result_json(fpath="")
             captured = capsys.readouterr()
             assert result == ((("lig_ejm_31", "lig_ejm_42"), "solvent"), None)
             assert "No 'unit_results' found" in captured.err
 
-    def test_skip_missing_estimate(self, capsys, min_result_json):
-        min_result_json["estimate"] = None
+    def test_skip_missing_estimate(self, capsys, min_valid_quickrun_result):
+        min_valid_quickrun_result.estimate = None
 
-        with mock.patch("openfecli.commands.gather.load_json", return_value=min_result_json):
+        with mock.patch(
+            "openfecli.commands.gather._QuickrunResult.from_json",
+            return_value=min_valid_quickrun_result,
+        ):
             result = _load_valid_result_json(fpath="")
             captured = capsys.readouterr()
             assert result == ((("lig_ejm_31", "lig_ejm_42"), "solvent"), None)
             assert "No 'estimate' found" in captured.err
 
-    def test_skip_missing_uncertainty(self, capsys, min_result_json):
-        min_result_json["uncertainty"] = None
+    def test_skip_missing_uncertainty(self, capsys, min_valid_quickrun_result):
+        min_valid_quickrun_result.uncertainty = None
 
-        with mock.patch("openfecli.commands.gather.load_json", return_value=min_result_json):
+        with mock.patch(
+            "openfecli.commands.gather._QuickrunResult.from_json",
+            return_value=min_valid_quickrun_result,
+        ):
             result = _load_valid_result_json(fpath="")
             captured = capsys.readouterr()
             assert result == ((("lig_ejm_31", "lig_ejm_42"), "solvent"), None)
             assert "No 'uncertainty' found" in captured.err
 
-    def test_skip_all_failed_runs(self, capsys, min_result_json):
-        del min_result_json["unit_results"]["ProtocolUnitResult-e85"]
-        with mock.patch("openfecli.commands.gather.load_json", return_value=min_result_json):
+    def test_skip_all_failed_runs(self, capsys, min_valid_quickrun_result):
+        del min_valid_quickrun_result.unit_results["ProtocolUnitResult-e85"]
+        with mock.patch(
+            "openfecli.commands.gather._QuickrunResult.from_json",
+            return_value=min_valid_quickrun_result,
+        ):
             result = _load_valid_result_json(fpath="")
             captured = capsys.readouterr()
             assert result == ((("lig_ejm_31", "lig_ejm_42"), "solvent"), None)
             assert "Exception found in all" in captured.err
 
-    def test_missing_pr_data(self, capsys, min_result_json):
-        min_result_json["protocol_result"]["data"] = {}
-        with mock.patch("openfecli.commands.gather.load_json", return_value=min_result_json):
+    def test_missing_pr_data(self, capsys, min_valid_quickrun_result):
+        min_valid_quickrun_result.protocol_result["data"] = {}
+        with mock.patch(
+            "openfecli.commands.gather._QuickrunResult.from_json",
+            return_value=min_valid_quickrun_result,
+        ):
             result = _load_valid_result_json(fpath="")
             captured = capsys.readouterr()
             assert result == (None, None)
             assert "Missing ligand names and/or simulation type. Skipping" in captured.err
 
-    def test_get_legs_from_result_jsons(self, capsys, min_result_json):
+    def test_get_legs_from_result_jsons(self, capsys, min_valid_quickrun_result):
         """Test that exceptions are handled correctly at the _get_legs_from_results_json level."""
-        min_result_json["protocol_result"]["data"] = {}
+        min_valid_quickrun_result.protocol_result["data"] = {}
 
-        with mock.patch("openfecli.commands.gather.load_json", return_value=min_result_json):
+        with mock.patch(
+            "openfecli.commands.gather._QuickrunResult.from_json",
+            return_value=min_valid_quickrun_result,
+        ):
             result = _get_legs_from_result_jsons(result_fns=[""], report="dg")
             captured = capsys.readouterr()
             assert result == {}