I would choose right now either private or agency. Then you can focus more on one them both. I would go private and lower my rate
I would love to go private. I just can't find any clients in this area. they all want/need subsidy. I can not lower my rates any more then they already are. they are $35/day.

I do put up /hand out flyers in my area. The school across the street will not advertise home daycares, they have a daycare in the school. The post office will not advertise either, but I do put up flyers at the Metro across the street.

The area I am in is mainly low income. I am surrounded by projects, community living homes, group homes, rent to income housing. As long as I live in this area I have to face the fact that I have to stay with at lest one of my agencies. This doesn't mean I will not find a private client now and then but not enough of them to keep my business going. We are saving to move, but it will take a year or two before we can.

Right now if I would walk away from the agencies I would end up having to close. All my clients at the moment are through an agency.