What a can of worms! The Agencies want to keep their "Shops" happy because the problem becomes just what Lairs says! The suppliers have deals with LDS and even chains and if they started to sell equipment to IDI's the shops would stop buying from the suppliers and all hell breaks loss in the industry! The best thing for all is associations between independents and shops filling each others needs! To discourage too much independence the suppliers will not sell unless you have the store front! It is a symbiotic relationship that the Certifying agencies also got involved in by making their instructors have a relation or connection with the LDS! Over all it is a good model that keep the wolves from eating each other!
So you maybe able to find more students being associated with more shops or Independent?
But CON you maybe limited as to the service you can provide?