["Child &Family Social Work, Volume 31, Issue 2, Page 748-758, May 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nDue to marketization, foster carers in many Western countries can choose between a number of local child welfare authorities (LAs) and independent fostering agencies (IFAs) to be contracted by. Through semi‐structured interviews with foster carers (n = 24), this study examined how foster carers navigate the Swedish foster care market and what they value in a foster care agency. Using thematic analysis, four themes were identified: (1) entering the foster care market with limited information, (2) navigating towards the type of assignments, (3) navigating towards financial and other resources and (4) navigating towards trust in and relationships with agency workers. The study shows that a majority of foster carers did not deliberately choose a fostering agency when entering the market, whereas experienced foster carers navigated the market in search of fostering agencies matching their requirements. Typical IFA pull factors were complex assignments, high remuneration and comprehensive support. Typical LA pull factors were less complex assignments and a good relationship with an agency worker. This study indicates that through experience, foster carers may learn how to benefit from the marketization in terms of resources and support, but questions are raised in regard to whether the development benefits child welfare authorities and children.\n"]