I agree - you need to way the pros and cons depending on the area you live in.

I started out doing your option C) chose an agency that allowed you to have private clients as long as you adhered to the 'restrictions' on age groups on no more than 3 children under three and of those three no more than 2 could be under the age of 2 years and you had to count your OWN children under the age of 10 in your ratios which did not matter to me cause well I have no wee ones at home.

However I found that there was no 'benefit' to the agency for me as a provider - in my area there is a waitlist a mile long for 'subsidy' so even if a client qualifies for it does not mean they GET it - they have to pay normal fees until they move up the waiting list for a subsidized spot ... so I was able to find and maintain private clientelle and none of them were interested in 'agency' model because the fees are higher than what I charge privately cause no 'middle man' and none of them were eligible for subsidy anyway. And while the agency provided professional development and networking support as well as toy lending library I can access all those things through an Ontario Early Years Centre anyway and for a low membership fee.

I still follow all the same 'rules' for the most part as far as safety in the house, Canada food guide, first aid and CPR trained and so forth although I dropped the no more than 3 under three aspect of the ratio restrictions - I still do not care for more than 2 children under the age of two because I physically know that is my limit of wee ones however my other 3 are of whatever age mix works for me cause I find there is little difference between caring for 3 two and a half year olds or 3 kids who are 2.5, 3 and 4 ... the level of independence and learning needs is pretty much the same there until they hit 'school age' and get some more challenging attitudes

Good luck in your choice for sure ... great thing about this field is options - you can always start out with an agency and if you do not enjoy it or find it beneficial you can 'let the agency go' and remain a private home childcare will little to no transition