It's a corporation right? So, in order for it to even be considered a corporation it must fallow the rules in which make it a corporation. The question you sould be asking yourself now is does it act like the other coffee or beverage corporations?If so it's similar or is a corporation unless you see the U.S government as it's leader which it's not other wise the government would be Socialist and there would be no such thing as private businesses and corporations but since our government is Capitalist Starbucks is by law a private business or by law you could say it's a corporation.