HoldCo Structure and Advisory Recommendations

Hi all,

I'm a Floridian searcher looking to set up a holding company through which to invest in a portfolio of small businesses down the road. I'm having trouble understanding the tax implications of different corporate structures (for the HoldCo level), and can't find any clear answers. Is there a way to defer or minimize taxes on dividends / distributions from OpCos to HoldCos using either an LLC or C Corp HoldCo.

I'm also looking for great legal and accounting advice for my search and was hoping to solicit some recommendations. Legal should probably be based here in Florida, but CPA's can be anywhere. Thanks all!